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THE  LIBRARY 

OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 

OF  CALIFORNIA 

DAVIS 


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BULLETIN  No.  50. 


September,  1908. 


THE 


COPPER    RESOURCES 


OF     CALIFORNIA. 


Issued  by  the 

CALirORNIA  STATE  MINING  BUREAU, 

Ferry  Building,   5an   Francisco. 


Under  the  direction  of 

LLWI5  L.  AUBURY, 

state  Mineralogist. 


SACRAMLNTO: 
W.  \v.  SHANNON,     :::::::::     SUPERINTLNDLNT  STATE.  PRINTING. 

I  908. 


LTDRARY 

UNTVFR«;iTV  OF  CALIFORmA 


•-  A  ^"'Q 


CONTENTS. 


rAOK. 

cnNhlTlnN  or    I  111:   iNhrsi  UV 11 

STAl'IS'lK'S    ol"    l'K(  (hrcrioN    -I 

iiisTi  tUKAi.  M>ri:s   •'•" 

SHASTA    (OrNlV     "*'' 

'I'm:   ("uri'KK   Hki.t    ■'" 

(;K(>I.<l(iY    (IK    TIIK    ('(iri'KK     I'.Kir " 

Shasta  Coimy  <"oriM:ii  Mim:s ''* 

cuAsr  i:a.\<;i;  hiirosi'is  n"' 

I'M  I 
SlSKlYOl"     <   Ol    N  I  Y      - 

ItKI.    NOUTK    CdIMY     '•'•' 

'I'lIIMlY     ror.NTY      1'" 

llrM,:n,.,>T    rn.MY     1^" 

TKIIAMA.    <;  I.K.N  .N.    a. mi    <  'oi.l  SA    (  "(  )1    .\  TI  KS 1-I-' 

.MKMlOriNO    ('(tr.MY     1'" 

r.AKi;  I  "orM  Y    ^''•' 

Nai-a   r..i  nty    "'^ 

SllNd.MA      ("dIMY      ''"'' 

MVK.N     r..,NTY     l"'^ 

Al.A.MKDA      CdINTY      '' 

Contra  Costa  Coi.n  ty   ^  '  ' 

Mkkcki)  *  '(tr.NTY    '  ' ' 

San    r.KMTO  ColNTY    ^  '-' 

Sa.n    1. 1   is   <  H:1S1MI   (  'OINTY    '  '-' 

riii:  sii:i;k.\  .\i;vai».\  hklt  ''' 

I'M    .MAS    A.Mi    SlKltKA    (ol    NTIKS     ''' 

1  s;  t 

NK\  ADA     (    m   .NTY     

Vl   MA     Cot    NTY     -"•' 

I'l.AC  KK     <    or. NTY      

i;i      I  >(I1{AI)0    (  "OINTY     

••■'1 
.\MAI)OK    (    OINTV     

22S. 
(    AI.AVKUAS    t  OINTY     


4  CONTENTS. 

THE  siKKKA  m:\aiia   i:i:i;r~< 'om imki).  pace. 

Ai.i'im;   Cointy    iMCi 

'I'roi.iM.NK  Coi'MY    L'47 

.M  AlUI'OSA     ('(11    .\IY     -'>] 

.Madkka    Coi   \TY .  L'li'.t 

Fresno  Coi'nty    l'77 

'rn.AKK  Cor.NTY    l!v.» 

KKK.N     (  'Ol   XTY     li'.l."! 

SOITIIKKX    AM>    KASTKKX    1  >i:i'(  >SII'S li'.is 

.Mono  ( 'oiN  TY    . : '2'.)S 

I  \  Yo  County    -U'J 

Sax     r.KKNAHDINO    (  "OINTY     '.\'2~) 

KlVKKSIDK    CoiNTY     ."UU 

San   Dikoo  Cointy   .".44 

Los  Angeles  Cointy   o4."» 

Al'l'KXIUX     -Ml 

('Ar.iioKNiA  Stati:  Mini.nc   I'.iHKAr   '.'A~ 

-MiNKHAi-   Statistics    .■'.":! 


LIST  OF  ILLUSTRATIONS. 


Pack. 

r.iilly  Ilill  Mini's  iiiiil  Siiifllrr.  Sluista  ("oiinty 1-'*> 

Uoiistin;:   stalls    foriMfily    iisi-d    liy    llu-    Minintniii    Ckiiiht    ( 'niiiiiany. 

K.swick.    Sli.ista    County    1"' 

.Moiiiitaiii     CiipptT     ( 'iimpaiiy's     ()ii;iinal     sint-ltrr     plnni.     Kiswirk. 

Shasta  ('onniy    1  ' 

Suil'arf  niiiiiii;:  plant  of  tin-  < 'upper  .Mining'  Company   in   Siiik    Umk 

Canyon,  with  lion  Mountain  at   ihr  rii.'hi •".'.' 

HlistiT  coiJptT  from  r.nlly   Hill  smcllfr  awaiiiui:  shipmcnl 1" 

'rnnncl  entrance  ai   ilie  Smrar  Loaf  Copper  Mine.  Shasta  ('ounty...  41 

View   iif   the   Hully    Hill   Copper   .Mines   from    the   north ■'.■". 

r.ully  Hill.  Shasta  County,  show  ini:  orii;iiial  tnniiel  djiened  in   Isti.';.  .  '<>'< 

(leolosieal  seftioii.  acc-offlim:   lo  available  data '>•'• 

Sketcli  showiii;;  on-  deiiosits  of  Iron  .Mountain   Mine liii 

Sketch  showiiif;  ore  hodi^-s  of  lialaklala  and   Shasta   Kini; *>1 

McDouirall    roastiu};    furnace.    Ki'swick    smelter.    Mountain    Copper 

Company.    Shasta   Counl\-    ~- 

Iloastin.s;  stalls  at   I'.ully  Ilill  snnlier.  Shasta  County 77 

Cross  section  of  UmIIn    Ilill  .Mine.  Shasta  County 7M 

Smelter  at    the    Unlly    Hill    Mines.   Shasta   County ^1 

Clmte    hetwi-eii    tunnels    and    e|e<'tric    iiowerliouse    an<l    tindier    sheds. 

ISully    Ilill    .Mini'    N."! 

A'iew  of  linlly   Hill  smeltei*  from   inouih  of   .\ci.  .';  tunnel N."> 

Shasta    Kiu'.:   .Mine.   Shasta   Count  \- Mi 

l^alaklala    ( 'oiisolidated    Cojtper    .MiniiiLr    ('omi>any    smelter,    ('uram. 

Shasta  ( 'ounty    's'.i 

(lOssaii  cropiiinirs  and   inniiej.   r.alakiala   .Mine.   Shasta   ("ounty !M 

Mammoth  Mine.  Shasta  County   li.'! 

Mammoth  Coi)i)er  Mining'  Company  smelter.  Kennet.  Shasta   Co....  !i'.> 

Aftei'thou^'lit  smelter  at    In^'ot.   Sliast;i   County li'l 

Section  throujrh  Copper  Hill  and  .Vfterthou'^'ht  claims.  Shasta  Co....  HM 

Preston  I'eak  trroup  of  copjter  mines 1.!1 


LIST  OF   ILLISTHATIONS. 


Pace. 

Low  Dividi'  Miiiiiiu:  District.  Del  Xorte  Ciuiiiiy I."'.." 

Croppiiifis  at  Islaud  Mountain  ('oi)i)tM-  Miiu-.  'I'liiiiiy  ("oiinty 147 

liowldt'i-s  of  copiKM-  ore  at    Islniid  Moiiiitaiii  ('u|ipiT  Mine 14fl 

Copper  bowlders  at  ratii(  k  I'oiiii.  Iluniboldt  County I."i4 

Copper  oroi)pinj2;s,  Williams'  claim,  (icntscc.  Plumas  County ISo 

Mountain   on   which   is   located    tiic   Dum-an   crroup   of  coiipcr   mines. 

IMunias   <  'ounty    1>>.'» 

Cro.ss  section  of  Siienceville  formation I'.iH 

I'latit  of  the  Sjience  Mineral  Company.  Speiiceviile l!l."i 

Si<etch  map  of  Mineral  Iliil  group  of  mines 1!»."i 

Cosumnes  Co|)])er  Mine.    Kl   Dorado  Cotinty L'1." 

Contraband    tunnel.    VA    Dorado   ('ounty iM.'i 

I'nion  Cojiper  .Mininjr  ('om|)any.  Copi)ero])o]is.  Calaveras  County....  U.'ll 

Smelter  of  Cnion  Copper  Minim;  Comiiany.  Copiieropolis l!.'!-l 

Concentrator.   Cnion  ("opjier  Mininj;  Company.  Copjieropolis -•V^ 

Union    Cupper    Mine,    Coiiperopolis l'.">7 

Penn  Copiier  Mining  Company's  mine  at  Campo  Seco -.'!!' 

Smeltins  works  of  the  Penn  Mining  Company  at  Camjjo  Seco 1240 

Penn  Chemical  Companys  smelter  and  roasters.  Calaveras  County..  1'41 

Napoleon  Cojiper  Mine.  Cala\eras  County -4.". 

(Jreen  Mountain  ("ojiper  .Mine.  .Mariposa  County '2"> 

(ireen  Mountain  and  I^one  Tree  Mines.  Marijiosa  County J.'i'.i 

Pocahontas  Copper  Mine.  Mariposa  County L'Cil 

Willie   Ro<k   Mine.   .Mariposa   County '2tu] 

l.a    \'ict(M-ia   Mine.   Mariposa   County UtiC. 

Buciianan  Cop|)er  Mine,  Madera  County L'TI 

California  Copper  Comjjany.  Madera  County '21'.] 

Smelter  of  California  Copper  Company,  Madera  County l!7." 

Fresno  Copi)er  Mine.  Fresno  County 1!n(> 

Plant  of  Copper  King  Mining  Company.  Ltd..  Fresno  County 2N.'> 

Shipping  station  and  smelter  of  the  Copper  King.  Ltd..  Contra  Costa 

County    I's4 

Smelter  at    Fresno  -Mine.   Fresno  County "jsii 

CopiHM-  Mountain  Mining  Company's  claims.  Tulare  County 2".'l 

(ireenback  Coppir   Mine.   Kern   County l".i."> 

Coi)i)er    croppings    at    Copper    King    Mine    and    at    Dodd's    Springs. 

Ubehebe   District.    Invo  Countv 30.~( 


LIST  ur  ii.i.rs'i'HATioNS.  ' 

Page. 

Inyo    Copi-'i-    Sin.'liin-    iui.l    Miiiini-'    «  ■..iiii-mmv.     riM-li.-l).-     liisiii.t. 

.    ..  :!'iT 

lliyo    (  Mil  Illy     

Cross  sec-tion  <.f   Iny-  CnlM'-'-  M'"'"-'  =••"'   ^^''''-''i"-   •'"•"I'iniy   i.rui.- 

ci-ly.    riM'lirlir    I»isiri<i.    liiyn   ('.)\iiity •'"•' 

liiirwiii.   Inyo  <  "oinily    

Hoist  and  sin. -It. T.   I-.iiir  Min-'.   I'Miwin.   I  iiy..  ( "nunly ■'•1' 

Mai.  of  (Jr.'-iiwal.T  Miiiini.-  histri.i.   Inyo  <'oniily ••'■' 

OuUTop  n.-ai-  ( ;r.>..n\vat.T.   liiy..  ( ",,uniy.  (;n-..n\val.T  Copii.T  C.n.i.any  .-.17 

C, iiwal.T  n.'aili  Vall.'y  Coi.!..  r  Company.  Iny.  C..iinty :;i'.i-:;-Ju 

Vi..w  of  D.'i.ili  VmIN'.v  from   Fmi.Tnl  Itaiii:.'  ami   rat.amint    Kaiiu.^...  --I 

...  .  >— ' » 

(Jr. (11  water     •• 


:'.J7 


•►•Ml 


Copiifi-  Wuii.l  .Mini'.  San  P..'riianliii<>  County 

Maiivcl.   San   lifrnanlinn  <  "(luiily 

Sini'ltci-  at    N 11. 's.  San   I'.,  riianliiio  Lonnty •'— 

Oraii'.:.'  Blossom  .Mine.  San   r..'iiianlino  County 

Kerry   Kuildimr.   San   Fran.is.-.,.   in   wJii.h   is  situate.l   the  California 

:;4s 

Stale  .Mining'   I'ur.au    

Min.T.i!   Musriim.   Slat.'  .Mining'  r.ur.'an 


LETTER  OE  TRANSMITTAL. 


Tn   Ills  K.rnlhnr„   -Iamks   N.   (iliXHTT.  (In,:  rnnmf   I  In    Sl.,1, 
of  Calit-nn,.,.  o,ul   I  In    llnnnrahh  llu   Board  W    V..s/<..s 
nf  lln    Slair  Miniinj  liiirciii. 
Cknti.kmkn:    I   l.av.-  11...  honor  1..  In.ns.ui!    lo  you    Uulhlin 
No.  .')<».  "Coi'I"-''  R«^s'>iii'^'^'^  "^"  ('"lif'"""'='-" 
*    Tins    n.port    is    n    r-visi-.n    of    V,u\\rUu    No.    2X    "CoIMH'V 
Resoun-s   of   ( "nlUonna.-    wln-l,    u.s    pnl-lish.-a    n>    VM^l    Uy 
thisa.partmonl.    ( hvin.  lo  ih.  iumu-ns..  .l..v..lo,nn,.nt  u.  cupiH-r 

nnnn..   whi.-h   h.s  t.K.n    ,.h ,„   Ihis  S.,,.  sn,.-   IIh-   latt.r 

H„n,,in  was  pul.lislH.l.  it  l:ns  he.n  .onsHl.-n.!  ..Iv.sahl..  <> 
,.,„....  tins  pul.li.ation  np  to  -lat..  nn.l  furnish  nil  poss.hl. 
i„fornK.tion  on  ^IrvelopuuMits  in  ••opp-r  for  tlu-  ,.asl  s,s  y-ars. 
,  i„vr  ....Irnvon-.l  to  inrorporntr  descriptions  ol  all  ropprr 
,,,..sp.-ts  .n.l  nnn.s  n.  this  linlh-tin.  On  o.M-.sions.  .t  has 
,„pp..n..a  that  wh.n  Ih-hl  assistants  visitnl  ...rtan.  properties. 
„.,  .,„..  ,vas  to  1...  t-MUHl.  ana  therefore  access  ^vas  not  possa.- 
,„.,  no  n,torn.a„on  .-onhl  he  ..htain.-a.  Where  the  Hehl 
assistants  vish.-a   ,Mo,..Hi..s.  w..  hav..  to  n.port  that  th..y  w.-re 

inv.riahlv  1n-a1..a  uilh  llu-  .rratest  courtesy  by  n.n.-  ounrrs 
,„a  sn,..M.inP.na..n1s.  ana  1  wish  to  .-xKna  th-  thanks  ot  this 
,l,.,,nr1nirnl    l.r  t  hr  assistan.-r  n.n.lm.a  to  ihr,,,. 

,.,„„.,,,1  ,s  h..hl  assistants  ul.o  .-olh.H.a  aata  for  the 
revision  of  -('opi'--  H. -un-es  of  Cal.rornia  -  u.mv  Dr.  A. 
ll.usn.ann.  ^vho  v,.,!..!  llu-  -onnti-s  of  Siskiyon.  D.l  Norte. 
Trinitv.  Shasta,  ana  ll.nnhoiat  in  thr  north,  ana  Ins  assistant. 
Mr  .l"Kruttsehnitt..lr..  whorarri.-.lon  a  ,.nr1  ion  of  t h.  work 
in  Shasta  and  Siskiyon  -ounties.  Dr.  llansn.ann  also  n.porlr.l 
„j,„,  the  nnnes  in  San  Hernaraino.  Inyo,  ("alavras.  Anuulor. 


10 


I.KTTER  OF  TKAXSMI'lTAI.. 


'riKiluiiiiM'.  .M.-iripcs,!.  .M.i(!('r;i.  ;ii!(l  Fresno  couiil  ics.  .Mr.  \V.  Iv 
'I'linfiif  was  ciiyaiicd  in  licld  wdi'k  in  i*ln('er.  El  Dnrado.  and 
Nrvada  counties.  .Mr.  .1.  A.  Mdnian  repoiMeil  on  new  dis- 
covei'ies  in    I'luiuas  ( 'ouni  \'. 

Thanks  aic  tlue  and  are  cordially  extended  to  all  of  those 
who  have  in  any  wa,\'  assisted  in  the  pcepaiMtion  of  this 
l^nlletin. 

Kesperl fully  sulnnitted. 

LKWIS  H.  AriJlKV. 

Shilt   M iitn-iihit/isl . 

Xoveinher  1.  11)08. 


THE 

COPPER  RESOURCB  Of  CAllfORNIA. 

CONDITION  Of  TME  INDUSTRY. 

('upper  ...-.•upi'-s  llK'  pl:>M'  ..r  tliinl  iiiiiM,rt:inr.-  in  \\u-  annual 
m-onl  of  California -s  niinrral  product  i..ii.  and  with  an  oulpul 
of  :V2.(i()2.!»4:)  p..unds.  valued  at  *(i.:Ui;iS7  in  I'.HlT.  (•alif..nna 
is  the  fifth  copper-pnHlucin-   state  of  1h.'   Tnion.     The  total 
pn.durtion  for  the  last  t\\vn1y-on.'  years  from  1S87  to  I'HIS  was 
•_>!I1.7:5!).7-!l>    pounds,    valued    at    >i;44,():U.()()8.   more   llian    Iti^^ 
,.,Mi1s  a  pound.     While  .Mi.-hi-an.  Montana  and  Arizona  -really 
exeeed  this  outi)u1.  Ilu'  hu'ures  of  the  world's  production  show 
that  this  State  will   undouhtedly  soon  assume  a  mu.li   lar-cr 
importaiiee  as  a  copper  field  and  that   it    will   Ion-   rcmaiu   a 
stron«r  factor  in  the  industry.     The  copper  industry  is  an  old 
one  in  California.     Many  thousands  of  tons  of  lidi  ores  were 
shipped  for  reduction  fi-oni  San  Francisci.  to  the  Atlantic  coast 
;,,„!   Kur..p.'  lu'tween  IHtil  and  1886;  but  thereafter,  for  many 
years,  the  industry  remained  at  a  low  ebb,  and  copper  was  one 
;,f  the  minor  mineral  products  of  the  State.     In  18!)f)  canie  the 
discovery  of  the  possii)ilities  of  the  larufc  copi)er  belt  in  Shasta 
County,  the  result  of  the  ivopenin-  and  siiccessful  ojx'ration  of 
the  mine  of  the  Mountain  Co|)per  Company  in  1  i-on  .Mountain. 
This  mine  soon  took  hiirh  rank  amonu:  the  <;reat  coi)i)er  mines 
of  the  world.     The  further  exploitation  of  the  Shasta  copper 
belt  soon  followed  the  early  success  of  the  :\Iountain  Copper 
C,„,,p;iny.  and  in  l!»(ll  a  -n-at  prop.-rty.  the  I'.ully  Hill,  entered 
llie  Held  as  a  |)roducer.  e(niipped  with  a  modern  smeltin<r  plant. 
Sii,,-e   then    a    uuiuIm^i-   of   (.thei-   mines   have   developed    into 
irreat   ppxlncrs.  the  most  important  bein-  the  :\rammoth.  the 
Halaklala.  and  the  Afterthoutrht.     :\Iines  of  sufficient  ma.irni- 
tude  to  have  their  own  re(lu<-tion  works  are  further,  the  IVnn 


12  THE  COI'l'KK   KKSOIKCKS  OF  CALIFOKXIA. 

riiiMiiical  L'oinpjmy  jiiid  lln'  riiinii  Copper  Miiiinu'  Compniiy. 
both  in  ('filavei'jis  ('oimty.  .iiid  tlici-c  ai'c  many  old  iiiiiit's  on 
which  operations  liave  been  resinned  latel.v  and  some  new 
(liseoveiMcs  whieh  jironiise  to  eontril)nte  larjicly  to  lli<'  State's 
eoppi'r  ])ro(luetion  in  the  near  future.  California  copper 
resources  llins  command  inlcrcstcd  attention  at  the  pi-esent 
time,  not  only  Ix'cause  {^\'  tiieir  I'elation  to  the  material  pi'os- 
perity  ol  the  Slate,  hnl  liecanse  of  tlieii-  widei-  sijiiiiticance  as  a 
com|iarat  ively  new  and  very  important  source  of  the  woi'ld's 
copper  snpply. 

California's  copper,  di'posits  have  a  reniarUahly  wide  distri- 
l)ution.  heinu'  scattered  over  tlic  len<>:th  and  breadth  of  the  State 
and  occni'rin'4'  in  practically  every  one  of  its  fifty-eitiht  coun- 
ties. Thonsands  of  deposits  liaxc  been  subjects  of  niinin<i' 
locations  at  ditfennt  times,  and  hniulreds  have  yielded  at  least 
a  few  tons  of  mei'clianlable  ore  as  a  result  oi'  snpei'li-ial  pros- 
peel  ini;'.  Ttiere  is  hardly  a  county  in  the  State  which  has  not 
at  some  time  made  at  least  such  small  contril)utions  to  the 
coi)per  snp|»ly.  Sii'-h  deposits,  nsiiall.x'  small  as  far  as  revealed 
by  sliiilit  development,  ai'c  scatteretl  at  varying;  intervals  alon^r 
the  borders  of  the  State  and  throuiihout  evei'y  section  of  it. 
excei)t  in  th(>  deti'ital  dei)()sits  of  the  valleys. 

Till'  deposits  of  economic  importance,  however,  are  mainly 
concentrated  in  certain  belts  and  districts  which  require  chief 
considei'at  ion.  Foi'  (  oiivenieiice.  the  ( upper  deposits  of  the 
State  are  in  this  bulletin  uronped  in  four  ,u:eoo:raphical  divi- 
sions: Shasta  County;  the  Coast  Ran<j:e;  the  Sieri'a  Nevada 
Ran^'e ;  and  the  ucneral  arid  I'euion  of  southeastern  ('alil'ornia. 

The  leadiiiL;  ((>|)|»ei'  disti'ici  of  ('alil'ornia.  and  the  one  that 
promises  to  remain  of  overshadowinu'  importance  for  a  good 
while  in  the  future,  in  total  out|)ut  of  metal,  is  that  of  Shasta 
County,  in  the  north-central  paii  of  th<'  State.  Here  is  a 
sei'ies  of  (opix-r  deposits  formiui;-  a  curved  belt  nearly  30  miles 
lonu',  and  a  co|)pei'  district  which  must  soon  rank  with  the  few 
great   individual  copper  disti'icts  of  the  world. 

Of  second  impoi-tatice  is  the  coppei-  belt  of  the  westei'U  slojK' 
of  the  Sierras,  wliirh  in  territoi'ial  magnitude  is  not  rivaled  in 
the  woi'ld.  llei'e  is  an  almost  contiinious  series  of  copper 
dei)osits  stretching  north  and  south  for  about  400  miles.  In 
this   belt    the   principal   (ojipei'   mines  of   the   State    in    former 


14  THE  COPPER  RESOURCES  OF  CALIFORNIA. 

yours  wci'c  (Icvclopcd.  .iiid  jiIoiil;'  it  llicrc  will  uiKloiihtcdly  he 
iiijiiiy  iH'odiiciim'  iiiiiics  dcvt'lojx'd   in   tln'    I'litiire. 

While  the  Coast  Ranufe  displays  (•()[)per  deposits  throughout 
its  h'li'i'th  of  500  miles,  its  important  copper  districts  are  in  its 
iiorth('i-ii  port  ion,  e.\tendin<r  for  ahout  loO  miles  soutliwanl 
fi'om  th(^  Oi't'iion  line.  Excej)t  in  Del  NOi'te  County,  in  the 
northwestern  corner  of  the  iState,  where  several  mines  were 
productive  of  considerable  quantities  of  shipping;  ore  nearly 
forty  years  iiL;i».  the  deposits  of  this  i-;in<.:('  have  not  hcen 
developt'il  hcyond  tlie  most  superficial  ])rospectinji'  in  a  few 
instances,  but  surface  indications  point  to  the  widespread 
existence  of  cupriferous  veins  of  sufficient  size  and  value  to 
waiTjiiit  development  and  the  cxix'ctation  that  this  great 
mineral  region  will  include  protitat)le  copper  mines  among  its 
industries. 

^lany  copper  deposits  nw  widely  scattered  throughout 
Southern  California,  especially  through  the  minerali/ed  desert 
region  of  the  southeastern  part  of  the  State.  These  deposits 
nuich  resemble  those  of  Arizona  in  their  character. 


THE  COPPER  ORES 

The  pi'inci|)al  connnercially  useful  copper  ores  found  in 
California  are  the  sulpliides.  carbonates,  and  silicate  of  coppei". 
The  most  coimnon  of  these,  and  the  one  that  nuiy  virtuallv  be 
found  throughout  the  entire  minerjd  belt  of  California,  is 

Chalcopyrite.  Sometimes  tlesignated  as  copix-r  pyrite. 
This  mineral  is  a  double  snlphide  of  co|)per  and  iron,  of  ;i 
brass  yellow  (oloi-.  uiving  a  greenish-black  stivak.  It  has  a 
hardness  of  8.5  to  4  in  the  mineral  scale,  and  a  speciiic  gravity 
of  4.1  to  4.3.  with  a  metallic  luster  which  is  sometimes  tar- 
nished, sliowing  iritlcsceuc  ('.  It  is  usually  auriferous  ami 
argentiferous.  It  is  found.  t)oth  in  crystal  form  and  massive, 
in  gneiss,  crystalline  schists.  ser]ientine.  etc..  associated  with 
iron  jiyrite.  zinc  blende,  (piartz.  calcite.  and  I)arite  (heavy 
spar).  It  is  composed,  when  pure,  of  copper  84. (i.  iron  80.5. 
and  sulphni'  84.0. 

Bornite.  — Also  known  as  erubescite.  horscHesh  oi-e.  peacock 
ore;  is.  like  the  former,  a  double  sidphide  of  copper  and  iron. 


y. 


y. 


y. 
y. 

-1 


y, 

X 


16  Till-:  coi'Im:!;  IvKsotkces  of  camkounia. 

of  a  metallic  liistrr.  with  a  imrplc  red  to  piiiclilx'ck  ln'owii 
color  oil  a  fresh  fractuic  taniisliinM:  speedily  to  iridescence. 
It  »rives  a  pah'  .nrayisli-l)lack  streak.  It  has  a  hardness  of  8  and 
specific  lii-avity  of  4.9  to  5.4.  and  contains  co]>per  55.5,  iron 
16.4.  snlphnr  2S.1.  It  has  hccu  fonnd  in  Plnmas.  Fresno, 
Shasta.  Santa  ("lara.  Calaveras,  and  ln\"o  connties. 

Chalcocite.  — Copper  ^hmce:  is  a  siilpliide  of  coi)per.  of  a 
(lark  lea(l-iira\-  color,  often  trrceii  on  the  snrfaoe.  with  a  metallic 
luster  and  lilackish  lead-Liray  slreak'.  ol'teii  tarnished  lilue  or 
irreeti.  The  hardness  is  2.5  to  ;i.  and  specific  Lrravity  5.5  to  5.8. 
It  contains  7i).8  coppei-  and  20.2  sidpluir.  witli  sometimes  a 
little  iron  and  silver  replacinu'  part  of  the  copper.  It  has  been 
fonnd  in  Inyo.  San  Bernardino.  San  Dic<i-o.  Los  Angeles.  San 
Luis  01)is])o.  and    Plumas  c(tunties. 

Covellite.  — Is  a  cu|)ric  sulphide,  of  an  indigo  blue  or  darker 
color,  with  a  lead-gray  to  black  shining  streak,  and  sub- 
metallic  lustei-  when  ci-ystalline.  but  dull  when  massive.  The 
hartlness  is  1.5  to  2.  and  specific  gravity  4.51)  to  4.6:^  It  con- 
tains 66.4  copper  and  .S:16  sulphur.  This  ore  is  the  result  of 
alteration  fi'om  other  coppei-  oi'cs.  cspeciallv  chalcocite.  It  has 
been  fonnd  in  a  few  localities  in  California. 

Azurite.  — Is  ;i  h\(lrons  carbonate  of  copjier,  of  an  azure 
blue  coh)r.  vitreous  luster  and  a  light  blue  streak.  The  hard- 
ness is  '.].~y  to  4.  and  specific  gravity  ;^.77  to  3.83.  It  is  trans- 
parent to  subtranshucnt.  This  is  a  valuable  copper  ore.  and 
is  found  in  Calaveras.  lu\(>.  and  Monterev  counties.  It  carries 
6!). 2  copper  o.xide,  25. (i  carbonic  acid,  and  5.2  water. 

Malachite,  is  the  ^i-een  carbonate  of  copper;  the  color  is 
bright  green,  giving  a  pale  green  streak;  the  hardness  is  3.5 
to  4.  and  specific  gravity  3.9  to  4.  It  is  found  coiiunoidy  mas- 
sive, but  also  incrusting.  with  a  delicate  fibrous  silky  structure. 
It  contains  1!).!)  carbon  dioxide.  71.9  cupric  oxide,  and  8.2 
water.  It  is  a  valuable  copper  ori',  anil  when  found  massive 
is  used  for  ornamental  puriioses.  It  is  found  in  numerous 
parts  of  Califoi'nia.  Imt  hitherto  not  ma.ssive. 

Cuprite.  — Red  oxide  of  eoppei-;  is  an  oxide  of  copper  of 
various  shades  of  red.  from  cochin(>al   I'ed  to  almost  black.     It 


H 
X, 

o 
'J 


X 


X. 


>5 


X. 


X 


2— BuL.  50 


18  THE  COPPER  RESOUKCES  OF  CALIFORNIA. 

has  an  adamantine  or  submetallic  to  earthy  luster,  and  a 
brownish  red,  shining  streak.  The  hardness  is  3.5  to  4,  and 
specific  gravity  5.85  to  6.15.  It  contains  88.8  copper,  11.2 
oxygen,  and  is  a  common  mineral  in  California,  having  been 
found  with  native  copper  in  Del  Norte  and  Plumas,  also  near 
St.  Helena  in  Napa  County,  farther  in  Kern.  Tulare,  Shasta, 
Mono,  Colusa,  Placer.  Trinity,  and  Nevada  counties. 

Native  Copper.  — This  is  pure  copper,  containing  often 
some  silver,  bismuth,  mercury,  etc.  The  color  is  copper  red, 
giving  a  metallic  shining  streak,  and  showing  a  metallic  luster. 
It  has  a  hardness  of  2.5  to  3,  and  a  specific  gravity  of  8.8  to 
8.9;  and  is  found  rather  sparingly  in  California  accompanying 
the  various  other  copper  ores,  especially  in  the  vicinity  of 
igneous  rocks,  although  it  is  also  found  in  clay  slates  and  sand- 
stones. It  has  been  found  in  Calaveras,  Plumas.  Amador, 
Napa,  and  Shasta  counties. 

Chrysocolla.  — This  mineral  is  a  silicate  of  copper,  with 
an  opal-like  or  enamel-like  texture.  It  varies  in  color,  passing 
from  a  mountain  green  and  bluish  green  to  sky  and  turquoise 
blue;  if  impure,  it  may  be  brown  to  black.  It  has  a  vitreous, 
shining  luster,  and  the  streak  (when  pure)  is  white.  The 
hardness  varies  from  2  to  4 ;  the  specific  gravity  is  2  to  2.238. 
As  it  is  an  alteration  product,  it  is  found  in  connection  with 
other  copper  minerals,  more  especially  in  the  southern  portion 
of  the  State,  though  very  handsome  specimens  have  been  found 
in  Plumas  County.  It  contains  45.2  copper  oxide,  34.3  silica, 
and  20.5  water.    It  is  a  good  copper  ore. 

Among  the  less  frequent  copper  ores  found  in  California  we 
may  note : 

Melaconite. — Black  oxide  of  copper.  It  is  formed  by 
decomposition  of  chalcopyrite  and  other  copper  ores.  It  is 
found  earthy  black,  massive,  with  a  specific  gravity  of  about 
5,  and  consists  of  79.8  cupric  oxide  and  20.2  oxygen.  It  has 
been  found  in  Calaveras,  Shasta,  and  Kern  counties. 

Chalcanthite.  — This  is  a  native  sulphate  of  copper  (blue 
vitriol),  and  results  from  decomposition  of  copper  sulphides. 
It  occurs  usually  as  an  efflorescence  in  old  copper  mines.     It 


I 


WHAT   CONSTITUTES   COPPER   SMELTING    ORE.  19 

has  been  found  in  Califonii;!  in  thf  IN'i-k  niinc.  Shasta  County; 
als»>  in  Nevada  County. 

Tetrahedrite.  — Cray  copper  ore  (fahlore).  This  mineral 
has  a  i,'ray  to  iron-l)laek  eolor  and  streak,  with  inetallie  luster, 
a  hardness  of  3  to  4.5.  and  a  specific  gravity  of  4.4  to  ')A.  It 
i'ontains  23.1  sulphur.  24. S  antimony,  aiul  r)2.1  copper.  The 
antimony  is  sometimes  replaced  l)y  arsenic,  when  the  ore  is 
named  Tennanitc.     These  ores  frr(|ucntly  carry  some  silver. 

WHAT  CONSTITUTES  A  GOOD    "COPPER  SMELTING  ORE"?* 

The  discovery  of  a  mine  is  in  itself  not  always  eciuivalent  to 
success,  for  the  mere  possession  of  an  ore  \nH\y  in  the  iiroiiiid  is 
not  a  source  of  revenue,  and  mdess  the  next  important  question 
has  liecn  solved,  how  to  convert  it  into  money,  there  may  be 
thousands  or  millions  of  dollars  worth  of  ore  exposed,  not  bring- 
ing' revenue,  but  causing  the  loss  of  money.  The  reason  for 
such  an  apparently  contradictory  condition  is,  that  all  the 
useful  metals,  with  the  partial  exception  of  gold  and  plat- 
iinun.  occur  as  a  ruh'.  not  in  a  native  state,  Imt  as  ores,  i.  c. 
chemically  combined  with  other  elements  with  which  they 
form  new  bodies,  having  but  little  reseml)lance  either  in  appear- 
ance or  (|uality  with  the  metallic  constituents  of  which  they  are 
composed. 

Iron,  for  instance,  is  found  combined  with  oxygen  as  a  brown 
earthy  substance;  a  little  sulphur  converts  the  white,  silvery, 
li(|uid  mercury  into  the  bright  red,  solid  cinnabar;  lead  forms 
with  molybdenum  and  oxygen  transparent  yellow  crystals, 
with  o.\ygen  and  carbon  white  crystals  of  brilliant  silky  luster, 
«tc.  These  elements  unite  in  certain  fixed  proportions,  accord- 
ing to  certain  laws  of  afifinity  and  may  be  separated  again  under 
the  same  laws.  On  the  knowledge  of  these  laws  is  based  the 
science  of  metallurgy,  the  art  to  produce  the  metals  from  their 
compoiuids  in  a  form  in  which  they  can  be  used  in  the  indus- 
tries, which  also  includes  the  preliminary  mechanical  work 
frequently  required  to  separate  the  ore  from  the  bulk  of  the 
baser  material  in  order  to  obtain  it  sufficiently  pure  for 
treatment. 


*  Bv  Dr.  A.  Hausmann. 


20  TllK  COPPER  RESOURCES  OF  CALII'OHNIA. 

Altliouii:li  iiu'tals  have  been  protlnced  in  i)rehistori('  ages, 
metallurgy  has  (Uivelopcd  in  very  recent  times  only  from  an 
empirical  cusloni  to  an  exaet  science,  which  has  ,L:reatly  modi- 
fied the  processes  and  increased  their  efficiency.  In  no  olhei' 
branch  of  industi\\'  does  financial  success  dejicnd  to  such  an 
exteni  on  the  |)ractical  application  of  theoretical  knowledge 
(which  is  really  nothing  else  but  a  systematically  arranged 
eoUeetion  of  facts  obtained  by  experience),  as  in  metallurgy. 
While  it  is  possible  under  certain  conditions  to  ol)1ain  good 
results  by  mere  praetieal  methods,  such  work  as  is  done  by 
large  modern  smelteis.  would  be  impossible  without  the  scien- 
tifie  basis,  which  permits  of  calculating  the  results  in  advance 
with  absolute  certainty,  leaving  nothing  to  chance  and  acci- 
dent. Notwitlistanding  many  practical  demonstrations  that 
these  metallurgical  calculations  are  indispensable  for  financial 
success,  the  necessity  of  scientific  methods  is  still  too  often 
ignored  and  this  disregard  causes  fre(|nent  failures,  involving 
great  financial  losses,  to  the  detfiineiit  of  the  mining  industry, 
which  is  usually  blamed  instead  i>r  individual  incompetence. 

Idle  reduction  woi'k's.  mills,  smeltei-s.  etc..  form  a  conspicuous 
and  unpleasant  feature  of  many  mining  camps  in  the  United 
States,  representing  a  deploral)le  loss  of  money.  The  failure 
of  these  plants  is  usmdly  due  to  these  causes:  lack  of  oi'c. 
or  character  of  ore,  which  renders  it  unfit  for  treatment  in 
that  particular  plant,  but  at  the  present  state  of  metallurgy, 
there  is  no  excuse  for  such  failures.  A  striking  example  of 
this  kind  is  the  ease  of  the  Fresno  mine,  where,  with  tiiousands 
of  tons  of  ore  on  the  dump  and  exposed  in  the  mine,  its  value 
seems  to  have  been  luiknown.  On  the  supposition  thai  it 
contained  7  pel-  cent  copper,  a  smelter  was  built  at  a  cost 
of  several  hundred  thousand  dollars,  but  after  if  was  finished 
it  was  suddenly  discovered  that  the  ore  only  contained  2  ])er 
cent  copper  and  was  ton  low  grade  for  smelting.  The  sm(>lfer 
was  never  blown  in. 

Another  very  couuiion  mistake  is  to  ligure  on  the  composition 
of  the  ore  as  it  appears  on  the  surface,  without  faking  into 
consideration  the  almost  certain  change  taking  place  in  depth. 
This  applies  especially  to  gold  veins  which  carr.v  free  milling 
ore  on  the  surface,  the  residf  of  exposure  to  the  aii',  which 
oxidizes  the  base  metals  and  liberates  the  srold.    Without  ascer- 


WHAT    CONSTnTTKS    fOPPKR    SMKLTINP.    ORE.  21 

taiiiiiii:  how  dft'i)  tliis  five  iiiilliiii;  on-  cxtemls.  a  mill  is  put 
up  wliicli  works  all  rii;lit  as  loiipr  as  this  ore  lasts,  hut  when  it 
(•liauiTt's  into  suli)hi(l('.  it  is  no  longer  i'vcv  niillini;  and  opci-a- 
tions  have  to  he  suspended. 

l-'or  cop])!'!'  oi-cs  snieltinir  is  almost  the  oid\  ti-t-atmi'nl  to  he 
considered:  it  is  applieahle  to  all  of  them  without  exception, 
althouirh  they  arc  not  cipially  well  adaptc(l  to  it.  The  (piestion 
of  smelting  at  the  mine  is  of  «rreater  importance  loi-  copi)er 
than  foi'  'jfold  or  silver  ores,  hecause  the  formei-  can  never 
attain  such  hi<rh  values  as  the  latter.  While  uold  and  silver 
ores  luay  carry  metal  enoutrh  to  he  wt)rth  many  tliousands  of 
dollars  aiul  hear  considerahle  expense  for  transportation,  a  ton 
of  I'd  per  cent  coppei-  ore  at  30  cents  a  pi  und  of  copper  is 
worth  $120  ouiy :  hut  such  a  jjratle  and  jn-ice  ;ii-e  ratlier  excep- 
tional and  1(1  |»ei-  cent  ore,  eopper  at  15  cents,  in  many  localities 
would  not  pay  to  ship.  L.iiiie  bodies  of  copper  ore  are.  how- 
ever, usually  of  much  lower  <rrade,  and  the  owner  is  confronted 
hy  the  alternative  to  close  the  mine  or  to  smelt  the  ore  on  the 
spot.  In  such  a  case  it  is  of  importance  to  know  whether  this 
can  he  done,  and  it  may  not  l)e  out  of  place  to  state  briefly  the 
conditions  for  successful  smelting. 

The  first  condition  is.  of  course,  a  sufficient  percentage  of 
copper,  a-ssuming  an  ore  not  containing  enough  gold  or  silver 
to  aft'ect  the  value.  There  is  a  lowest  limit,  hut  no  fixed  stand- 
ard for  all  i)laces;  it  may  he  possible  in  some  localities  to  treat 
ore  as  low  as  2  per  cent,  while  in  others  10  per  cent  may  not  be 
of  sufficient  grade.  Supposing  the  ore  to  be  of  fair  grade,  the 
cost  of  smelting  can  be  calculated  if  the  factors  by  which  it 
is  determined,  the  cost  of  fuel,  labor,  power,  fluxes  and  trans- 
portation, are  known,  but  it  rerpiires  knowledge  of  smelting 
and  the  chemical  composition  of  the  ore  and  presents  a  problem 
which  the  metallurgist  must  solve  for  every  particular  case  and 
locality.  Often  we  hear  people  speak  about  self-flvixing  ore 
who  evid<'ntl\  <lo  not  know  what  con.stitutes  tliis  desirable 
quality,  and  for  the  better  understanding  of  this  important 
question  a  general  idea  (»f  the  principles  involved  is  given. 

The  object  of  smelting  is  the  separation  of  a  metal  from  the 
material  with  which  it  is  mechanically  mixed  or  chemically 
combined,  and  this  is  accomplished  by  uniting  the  necessary 
minerals  in  such   proportions  that  they  will  smelt  and  form 


22  THE  COPPER  RESOURCES  OF  CALll-'ORNIA. 

liquids  (slags)  of  less  specific  gravity  than  the  metal,  which 
they  permit  to  sink  through  and  gather  on  the  bottom.  If  the 
metal  is  not  present  in  the  ore  as  such,  it  is  either  converted 
into  the  metallic  state  by  the  chemical  action  of  the  flux  and 
fuel,  or  recovered  in  some  form  which  requires  sul)sequent  treat- 
ment or  refining.  But  the  principle  of  separation  by  specific 
gravity  remains  the  same,  and  the  more  or  less  perfect  recovery 
of  the  metal  depends  on  the  proper  condition  of  the  slag. 
Because  the  metal  represents  a  snuUl  portion  of  the  ore.  the 
making  of  a  slag  free  from  metal  and  easily  removed  is  the 
main  oh.ject  of  the  ni(4<dlurgist.  The  material  forming  the  slag 
consists  of  two  groups,  the  acid  silica  (quartz)  and  the  basic, 
the  oxides  of  the  heavy  metals,  iron,  manganese,  etc.,  and  the 
earthy  bases,  lime,  magnesia,  etc.,  which  must  be  combined  in 
certain  proportions  in  order  to  answer  the  purpose  for  which 
slags  are  made,  because  they  are  infusil)le  by  themselves.  Silica, 
iron,  and  lime  furnish  the  bulk  of  the  slag-making  material  in 
copper  ores  and  the  basis  for  the  slag  calculation.  Silica  requires 
a  certain  quantity  of  the  basic  group,  which  may  be  iron,  man- 
ganese, lime,  etc.,  but  experience  has  shown  that  the  oxides  of 
the  heavy  metals,  iron,  etc.,  nnist  be  replaced  to  a  certain  extent 
by  the  earthy  oxides,  lime,  etc.,  in  order  to  reduce  the  specific 
weight  of  the  slag  sufficiently  to  allow  the  metallic  particles  to 
sink  and  collect.  Taking  a  slag,  for  instance,  consisting  of  30 
per  cent  silica,  40  per  cent  ferroiLS  oxide  and  20  per  cent  lime, 
the  latter  might  be  partly  replaced  by  magnesia,  alumina,  etc.. 
in  various  proportions,  and  their  amount  total  may  also  l)e 
diminished,  necessitating  an  increase  of  iron  at  the  same  time, 
but  it  would  not  be  safe  to  go  below  a  certain  limit,  about  10  per 
cent,  liecause  the  slag  would  become  too  heavy.  The  ideal  self- 
fluxing  ore,  therefore,  would  be  an  ore  containing  the  acid  and 
basic  constituents  in  such  proportions  as  reciuired  to  make  a 
good  slag  and  which  could  be  smelted  without  adding  any 
fluxes.  Such  an  ore  is  seldom  found  in  practice ;  the  metal- 
lurgist is  content  with  an  ore  reijuiring  fluxes  that  can  l)e 
cheaply  procured  and  which  is  free  from  impurities  interfering 
with  the  smelting.  As  such  must  be  named  arsenic  and  anti- 
mony, heavy  spar,  galena  and,  worst  of  all.  zinc,  which  becomes 
prohibitive  if  exceeding  about  10  per  cent  of  the  charge. 


\VMAT    CONSTITITES    COPPER    SMELTING    ORE. 


23 


Accordin-  to  the  c-haractor  of  tlic  on-,  w.-  distinguish  between 
the  snu'ltiiil'  of  oxidi/i'd  ores,  intending:  to  produce  metallic 
copper  directlv.  and  the  smelting  of  the  sulphide  ore,  produc- 
i„..  an  intermediate  product,  nuitte.  Oxidi/ed  ores  are  not  as 
,-ommon  as  the  sulphides;  they  are  usuall.v  confined  to  the 
upper  part  of  a  vein  and  the  probability  of  .-han-ni?  nito  the 
latter  at  a  .-ertain  depth,  usually  below  the  water  level,  must 
be  tak.Mi   into  considerati-.n  whrn  the  erection  of  a  smelter  is 

planned.  •      i  i 

By  far  the  <rreater  part  of  the  copper  produced  is  obtaimnl 
from  the  sulphides.  n..t  in  metallic  form,  but  as  a  mixture  of 
sulphides,  called  matte.     By  makin-  this  product  it  is  possible 
to  smelt  ores  that  c..ntain  only  8  per  cent  copper  (or  even  less) 
and  obtain  a  matte  rich  enough  (45  per  cent  or  over)  to  extract 
the  metal  bv  a  dit^'erent  process.    Matte  smelting  is  really  a  dry 
concentration,  bv  which  the  silica  and  the  earthy  constituents 
of  the  ore  and   part   of  the  excess  of  sulpliur  and    iron   are 
removed,  condensing  the  copper  contents  into  a  smaller  bulk 
in  various  proportions,  at  a  ratio  of  from  3.  10.  or  even  20. 
into  one.     There  are  two  ways  to  accomplish  this  object,  the 
,,ld  method  of  matte  smelting,  in  which  part  of  the  sulphur  is 
removed  bv  preliminary  roasting  and  the  residue  smelted  with 
the  addition  of  Huxes  and  fuel,  and  the  later  method,  .-ailed 
pyritic  smelting.     In  this  method  the  ore  is  smelted  without 
roasting,  utilizing  the  heat  from  the  burning  sulphur,  adding 
onlv  a  very  small  percentage  of  carbonaceous  fuel.    It  is  evident 
from  the  foregoing  brief  description  of  the  principles  of  smelt- 
ing that  a  definition  of  what  constitutes  a  good  smelting  ore  can 
only  be  given  in  a  general  way.  it  is  an  ore  which  is  free  from 
injurious  minerals  and  .-ontains  silica  and  the  bases  in  a  pro- 
portion reipiired  for  a  good  slag,  without  the  addition  of  .'ither 
one  of  them,  as  flux.    Whether  a  certain  ore  can  l)e  smelted  with 
profit  in  a  given  place,  depends  to  such  an  extent  on  local  con- 
ditions that  the  problem  has  to  be  solved  for  every  particular 
case.     The  smelting  of  copper  to-day  is  such  an  exact  science 
that  every  result  can  be  calculated  in  advance,  and  there  is  no 
lonc'er  aiiy  excuse  for  failure  in  an  enterprise  of  this  kind. 


24  THE  COl'PER  RESOURCES  OF  CALIFORNIA. 


STATISTICS. 

The  oldest  consecutive  record  of  the  ( opper  production  of 
Calit'onii;)  having  the  stamp  of  official  aulhoi'i1>-  begins  with 
]8Sl*.  when  the  United  States  (}eoh)<i'ical  Sui'xcy  hcuan  its  min- 
eral statistics.  "Mineral  Industry"  beyan  its  annual  mineral 
record  with  1892.  Th(>  California  State  Mining  Bureau's  care- 
ful yearly  (•()ni|»ilat  idii  of  the  aiiKiiiiils  and  \alucs  of  the  State's 
miiici'al  pfoduds  l)e.i'-an  in  1S!)4.  'I'hei'c  arc  i-adii-al  (lisajjree- 
mculs  hclwccn  llic  rccoi-ds  of  the  \' .  S.  (Jcological  Sui'vcy  and 
those  of  ■■  -Mineral  huhislry  "  as  to  some  of  the  years  succeeding 
1891.  ami  between  tliese  records  and  Ihat  of  the  State  Mining 
Burc^an  as  to  some  of  the  years  succeeding  1893.  The  following 
statistical  I'ccord  of  the  copper  |>roduct  of  Califoi-nia.  in  fine 
pouiuls,  for  1882  and  following  years,  is  matle  up  of  the  record 
of  the  V.  S.  (reological  Survey  for  the  years  preceding  1894 
and  of  the  record  of  the  State  Alining  Bureau  for  the  succeed- 
ing years  : 

Year.  Fine  Pounds,  Year.  Fine  Pounds. 

1SS2 S2(;.(  >!!.-.  is'.r. 22r).<;,io 

1S83 l.C.00.sr,2  1S!)t; 1.!><)2..S44 

1S84 sTc.ic.t;  isjtT i;i.(»s.(;-j(; 

1885 4(;!  MIL'S  ]S!»8 21..";4.'}.22'.> 

18S<> 4;:i>.2io  ]Sf)i) 2;',.!>ir>.4.s<; 

1887 1.(;(Mi.(MMl  1000 2!)..")iri..->12 

1888 l.r)TO.()2l  l!Hil .S4.n81.!»S.-> 

1889 l.-.l,.-.0.1  11M>2 27.8(M).1G2 

181)0 2:!.:!47  100:5 io.n:?.8<^i 

1891 :J.:!07.4o.-.  I'.KM 20,074, ir.4 

1892 2.0so.«>44  19(>."> lft.9i)7.4S0 

189.3 2.S0.(;s-_>  v:x)i\ 28.72t;.44S 

1894 7;!S..V,)4  1007 ;J2,tJ02.045 


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26 


THE  COPPER  RESOURCES  OP  CALIFORNLV. 


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STATISTICAL    TABLES. 


27 


28 


THE  COPPER  RESOURCES  OP  CALIFORNIA. 


Copper  Production  of  California  for  fourteen  years,  from  1894  to  1908. 

Compiled  from  the  Annual  Mineral  Statistics  of  the  blale  Mining  Bureau. 


County. 

Product  in 
Fine  Pounds. 

1 

Value. 

Alameda .      .               .. 

13,728 

8,377 

r)00,248 

23,436,038 

31,700 

165,859 

6.292,172 

270,983 

673,440 

849 

(>75.225 

382,087 

108,371 

3,5:i8 

474,271 

964 

1,185,650 

2,906 

502 

2,007 

4,989,151 

18,054 

240,554,804 

393 

365,030 

4,838 

155,826 

1,460,923 

$2,162 
1  319 

Alpine    

Aniadt)r 

68,409 

3,643,093 

3,645 

25,901 

Calavera.s 

Contra  Costa 

E\  Dorado   

Fri'sno ..  .. 

8ii0  607 

Invo .. ..     . 

37  606 

Kern    ^ 

96.047 

ho^  Angeles ^^_*n. 

Madera ... 

169 

103,088 

52,350 

Mariposa ..     

Merced                    

16,024 

Mono                      -  

513 

Nevada 

60,409 

Orange ..  ..  ..  .. 

193 

Placer   .   

175,043 

Plumas _ 

404 

Riverside . 

Sacramento . 

100 
316 

San  Bernardino .  . 

814,213 

San  Diego .• .. 

3,409 

Shasta_-   __                            ■_. 

36,503,120 

Siskivon . 

62 

Stanislaus. ..  ..          

47.181 

Trinity    

761 

Tuolumne     

17,920 

Unai>portioned     _  .     ..  ..     _ 

231,903 

Totals        _           

281,777,954 

,$42,795,967 

California's  Copper  Production  in  1907,  by  Counties. 


County. 


Pounds. 


Value. 


Amador         

Calaveras 

EI  Dorado,    

Fresno  _. 

Inyo 

Los  Angeles 

Madera  

Nevada   _ 

Orange    

Riverside 

San  Diego 

San  Bernardino 
Siskiyou     . 
Shasta 

Totals 


27 


5,300 

,941,883 

606 

250,000 

6,779 

849 

1,895 

22.082 

i«;4 

.'i02 

i;5,246 

514,282 

193 

.844,364 


$1,020 

60i  1,203 

122 

.'>0,(KX» 

l,3.'i6 

169 

379 

4,418 

193 

100 

2,659 

102,856 

39 

5,5<)8,873 


32,602,945  '      $6,341,387 


STATISTICAL    TABLES. 


29 


The  Progress  of  the  Copper  Industry  in  the  United  States,  as  Shown 
by  the  Production  by  States,  in  Pounds,  in  the  Years  1890,  1895, 
1900,  and    1905. 


Soi'RCE. 

1890.                1H95. 

1900. 

igo.'i. 

Lake  Superior 

Montana 

101,410,277  '  129.330,749  i  145,461,498 
U2,980,8i)(>     190,172,150    270.7:W.489 

218,999,7.59 
319.179.880 

Arizona 

Utah 

California. 

Colorado 

Wvotnint; 

:«.7!Hi,r,89      47,9.53,.5,53 

l.(Kit!,t)36         2,184,708 

23,:i47            218.332 

3,585,«!tl         (1,079,243 

118,317,7t^4      222,8(Mi,020 

18,^54,726         51,9.'-)0,7S2 

28,511,225         l(i,(i97,48H 

7.82(i,m9          9,8.54,174 

4.2(>3,77()          2,393,201 

New  Mexico        

850,034            143.719 

4.1<i9,400          5,638,843 

Idaho 
Nevada 

87,243 

1,425,914 

2!t0,163          6,500,005 
407,.535 

All  other  States 

378,840  j      3.105,036 

4,835,642        1(1,457,982 

Totals 

255,119,(553    380.613.404  i  603.117.167      870.538.132 

Average  Annual  Price  of  Lake  Copper  in  New  York  Since  1860. 


Year. 

i860 
IW.l 
l,S(i2 
18«i3 

IKCI 

lSti.'i 

1866 

1867- 

1868. 

1869. 

1870. 

1871. 

1872. 

1873- 

1874. 

1875 


Cciiti  per 

22. 

19, 

25. 

32, 

46, 
.36 
31, 

.-2.5, 

23, 

.--23 

20 

22 

.....---33 

29 

23 

.22 


11).  Year.  Cents  per  11>. 

25  1876  21.00 

12  1877 18.62 

75  1878.- 16.50 

87  1879 17.12 

25  1880 20.12 

25  1H81 18.12 

75  1882 18.50 

12  1883 .-15.87 

()2  1884 13.87 

,37  188.5 -.11.12 

62  188H-. 11.00 

,62  1887 11.25 

,00  1888.- .-.16.66 

,00  1889 13.75 

.25  1890 15.75 

.50  1891  12.87 


Year. 
1892 

I'elUs  pir  lb. 
11.50 

1893.-.. 
1894 

-- ..-10.75 

9..5«( 

1895  ... 

10.76 

1896 

10.88 

1897.--. 
1898 

11.29 

12.03 

1899 

17.61 

liKX)  --- 

ltj..')2 

1901     .- 

16.72 

1902  .-. 

12.16 

1903.-.. 
1904 

-13.72 

13.01 

1905     . . 

-   -  . 15.89 

1906  . . - 

19.15 

Table  Showing  the  Position  of  Copper  among  the  Principal  Mineral 
Products  of  the  United  States  in  1906.* 


Products  Exceeding  110,000,000  in  Value. 


Quantity. 


Value. 


Coal,  bituminous -.short  tons 

Coal,  anthracite,  Pennsylvania long  tons 

Pig  iron,  snot  value long  tons 

Copper,  value  New  York pounds 

Clay  products 

Gold,  coining  value troy  ounces 

Petroleum... barrels 

Stone 

Natural  gas 

Cement barrels 

Lead,  value  at  New  York short  tons 

Silver,  commercial  value troy  ounces 

Zinc,  value  at  New  York short  tons 

Lime short  tons 

Sand,  molding,  building,  etc short  tons 


342,874,867 
63,(^5,010 
25,307,191 

917,805,682 


4,565,3.33 
126,493,936 


51,000,445 
.350,1.53 

56,517,iKXJ 

199,694 

3,197,754 

31,842,572 


1381,162,115 

13I.917,()94. 

.505,700,000 

177,.-)95,888 

Kil, 032,722 

94,373,800 

92.444,735 

(«i.378,794 

46,873,932 

55..302,277 

.39,917,442 

:^8,2.5(>,400 

24,362,668 

12,480,6.53 

11,489,420 


Total  value  of  all  mineral  products  in  1906 $1,839,288,540 


•Report  of  the  United  States  Geological  Survey. 


30  THE  COPPER  RESOURCES  OF  CALIFORNIA. 


HISTORICAL  NOTES. 


The  liistory  of  the  copper  industry  of  California  is  naturally 
divided  into  three  periods.  Tlie  first  extended  from  18()()  to 
1868.  and  was  a  period  of  active  and  widespread  development 
and  operation  of  copper  mines,  some  of  them  on  a  considerable 
scale,  and  of  the  shipment  of  many  thousands  of  tons  of  copper 
ores  by  sea  to  reduction  works  at  Baltimore,  New  York,  and 
Boston  on  the  Atlantic  coast,  and  to  Swansea  in  Wales.  The 
second  period  was  one  of  depression  and.  in  fact,  of  almost 
complete  prostration,  extondina;  from  the  practical  cessation 
of  all  development  in  1868  to  18!J5.  The  third  and  present 
period  is  that  beginning  with  the  operations  of  the  Mountain 
Copper  Company  in  Shasta  County  in  1895,  marked  by  the 
discovery  and  development  of  the  immense  ore  bodies  of  the 
copper  l)elt  of  Shasta  County,  and  by  a  general  revival  of 
interest  in  the  industry  throughout  the  State  as  a  consequence 
of  the  successes  won  at  the  north  and  of  the  recent  period  of 
high  prices  for  the  metal. 

The  widespread  occurrence  of  copper  in  California  had  been 
known  for  many  years  before  the  industry  began  its  productive 
career,  but  without  attracting  more  than  incidental  attention. 
Old  records  state  that  as  early  as  1840  copper  had  been  noted 
near  Soledad  Pass,  in  Los  Angeles  County,  and  that  about 
1854  tile  deposits  afterward  worked  there  were  discovered  by 
a  Frenchman  named  INIaris.  About  1855  a  small  deposit  of 
copper  ore  was  fouiul  in  Hope  Valley,  Alpine  County,  by 
"Uncle  Billy"  Rodgers,  and  the  specimens  from  it  attracted 
considerable  attention  on  account  of  their  beauty  and  richness, 
but  the  discovery  was  soon  forgotten.  Dr.  J.  B.  Trask.  who 
acted  as  State  Geologist  from  1851  to  1854,  discovered  copper 
minerals  in  nearly  every  county  in  the  State,  but  his  reports 
thereon  appear  to  have  had  no  influence  on  the  later  beginning 
and  progress  of  copper  mining  in  California. 

Available  historical   material  is  so  fragmentary   and  often 
unreli.iblc   .iiul    conflicting  that   the   actual   beginning  of   the 


HISTORICAL    NOTES.  31 

industry  caii  not  1k'  tixctl.  A  vjilu;il)l(>  and  Icnjjthy  paper  in 
J.  K(>ss  Browne's  official  report  on  tin-  .Mineral  Kesonrees  of 
the  States  ;in«l  Territorie.s  west  of  the  Koeky  .Mountains,  made 
in  18G7.  identifies  tlie  be^'innin^^  with  the  discovery  of  the 
Napoleon  mine  in  Calaveras  County,  late  in  18»i().  hy  Hiram 
Hughes.  This  is  essentially  an  error,  as  other  records  show 
that  several  copper  mininj,'  companies,  maiidy  of  Del  Norte 
and  Calaveras  counties,  were  incorporated  in  that  year,  some 
of  them  in  the  sprintr.  Lan^dey's  State  Re^nster  for  1850  says, 
in  part,  re^'ardintr  the  copper  resources  of  the  State:  "The 
ore  from  the  vicinity  of  the  Pitt  and  McCloud  rivers,  Shasta 
County,  is  said  to  excel  in  richness  the  celebrated  Arizona 
mines,  and  to  contain  in  addition  a  considerable  (piantity  of 
iTold.  Ore  of  exceedinf;  richne&s  has  also  been  found  in  ditTer- 
ent  localities  in  El  Dorado  County,  and  a  vein  on  the  Cosumnes 
has  yielded  over  seventy  per  cent  of  jMire  metal.  There  is  a 
vein  of  copper  on  the  middle  fork  of  the  Cosumnes  River, 
Mountain  Township,  El  Dorado  County,  now  being  worked 
by  machinery  i)ropelled  by  water.  The  mill  has  three  stamps 
attached,  and  has  so  far  yielded  a  handsome  return  to  the 
proprietors. ' ' 

The  la.st  reference  is  believed  to  be  to  the  old  Cosumnes  mine 
of  that  county,  which  was  opened  chicHy  as  a  gold  mine.  The 
evidence  indicates  that,  at  the  close  of  the  decade  of  the  fifties, 
practical  attention  was  just  turning  to  some  of  the  known 
copper  deposits  of  the  State,  and  that  modest  plans  for  their 
exploration  were  being  quietly  formed. 

However,  that  discovery  by  Iliram  Hughes  late  in  18^0 
appears,  from  all  historical  data  here  available,  to  be  entitled 
to  the  honor  of  being  regarded  as  the  real  heginning  of  the 
notable  period  of  copper  mining  that  quickly  ensued,  because 
it  does  not  seem  1"  liave  resulted  from  what  had  been  known 
or  done  before,  and  because  the  copper  excitement  of  that  day 
was  a  direct  consequence  of  this  and  related  discoveries.  ^Mr. 
Hughes,  according  to  J.  Ross  Browne's  report,  had  lived  and 
mined  for  gold  for  some  years  in  the  region  of  his  discovery  in 
the  Gopher  Hills,  in  the  low  foothills  of  the  western  end  of 
Calaveras  County.  When  the  first  Washoe  excitement  ])roke 
out  he  joined  the  rush  to  the  famous  new  silver  field  of  Nevada, 
and  later  joined  the  returning  procession  of  the  unsuccessful. 


32  THE  COPPER  RESOLRCES  OP  CALIFORNLV. 

His  observations  of  the  Comstock  lode  had  awakened  his 
interest  in  roeks  he  had  often  seen  near  home,  and  on  his 
return  he  be^an  jirospeetinj?  for  silver.  lie  found  the  gossan 
eap  of  what  beeanie  the  Quail  Ilill  No.  1  mine,  found  it  rieh 
in  gold,  and  began  working  it  as  a  gold  mine.  Soon  after  he 
found  the  gossan  of  wlial  was  soon  the  Napoleon  mine,  and 
finding  no  gold,  sent  some  of  the  ore  to  San  Francisco  for 
assay.  It  was  reported  to  carry  80  per  cent  copper,  and  to  be 
woi-tli  ^120  ])(']•  ton.  A  local  excitement  broke  out.  the  lode 
was  traced  antl  located  f(tr  a  nnnibci-  of  miles,  and  hundreds  of 
claims  were  staked  out. 

Among  the  local  people  who  joined  in  tlie  sean-h  for  rich 
copper  ores  like  those  of  the  Napoleon,  were  W.  R.  Reed. 
Dr.  Blatchly.  and  ^Ir.  ^FcCafty,  who  in  -lune.  1861.  made  the 
important  discovery  and  location  of  the  Copperopolis  lode,  a 
few  miles  east  of  the  Napoleon  lode.  ^McCarty  had  mined  and 
farmed  in  the  Salt  Spring  Valley  for  ten  years,  and  in 
1852  had  sunk  a  prospect  shaft  on  the  lode  he  now  helped  to 
locate.  Finding  no  gold  he  quit,  throwing  away  rieh  surface 
cojiper  ores  of  what  was  to  be  the  productive  Keystone  copper 
mine.  ('o])per  ores  had  in  fact  been  familiar  l)ut  worthless 
rocks  to  these  local  miners  for  many  years.  The  men  named 
located  11.250  feet  of  the  Copperopolis  lode,  and  the  Copper- 
opolis mine  soon  appeared  richer  than  the  Napoleon.  New  life 
was  given  the  local  copper  excitement,  and  more  hundreds  of 
claims  were  staked  out  along  and  near  the  Copperopolis  lode 
for  twenty  miles. 

Tlie  copper  excitement  thus  started  quickly  spread,  and  in  a 
few  months  it  filled  the  State,  running  its  course  after  the 
natural  manner  of  popular  mining  excitements,  and  expanding 
into  adjoining  States  and  Territories.  The  furor  and  specula- 
tive excitement  lasted  as  such  for  about  two  years.  Prospectors 
l)y  hundreds  visited  Copperopolis.  and  went  home  or  elsewhere 
to  search  for  similar  ores  and  formations. 

The  period  of  1862-63  was  marked  by  a  speculative  mania, 
the  organization  of  hundreds  of  copper  mining  companies,  and 
the  wildcat  exploitation  of  slight  surface  prospects.  Copjier 
operators  soon  realized  the  fact  that  money,  skill,  and  legitimate 
development  were  necessary  to  success,  and  the  boom  suddenly 
burst,  leaving  legitimate  mining  companies  to  here  and  there, 


lIISTORir.M,    NOTF.S. 


ss 


tliruu^hout  tlif  Slatr  to  ptirsiic  their  efforts  tn  iii;iU»'  money 
from  tlie  development  of  mines  and  the  shipment  of  ores.  The 
follo\vin«r  notes  etineerninjr  the  active  period  of  the  sixties  are 
fiirnished  hy  Tlumias  Price  of  San  Francisco,  a  nietallur^Mst 
who  has  l)een  intimately  associated  with  the  California  copper 
industry  almost  since  its  inception: 

-It  was  wfll  on  in  tin-  yi'ar  ISCI  hcforp  anythinc  considcrahh'  had  Im'hh 
(lone  in  iln-  ili'vclopnicnt  of  tin-  newly  discovfrcd  i-opiHT  deposits  of  (Cali- 
fornia. l>ut  at  this  time  small  slii|)ments  were  made  to  Hoston  and 
Haltimore.  and  one  small  lot  was  sent  to  Swansea.  Wales,  by  way  of 
New  York.  liy  the  spring'  of  ls<">.'i  the  shipments  of  ropper  ore  from 
California  to  other  parts  of  the  I'nited  States  and  \n  (Ireat  Britain  had 
assnmed   very   considerahle   proportions. 

"During  this  period  the  most  important  coiiper  mines  were  near  the 
towns  of  ('opi)eroi»olis.  Campo  Se<o.  and  Landia  Plana,  in  Calaveras 
County,  and  tlie  principal  mines  were  the  Inion.  Keystone,  and  Empire. 
The  I'nion  mine,  the  most  e.xtensively  developed  property  in  the  State. 
was  operated  on  a  very  considerable  scale  for  several  years,  and  from  it 
several  thousand  tons  of  ore  were  shipped.  The  mine  was  opened  up  to 
a  depth  of  .somethinj;  like  l'>00  feet,  and  the  vein  of  .solid  i)yritic  ore 
averaged  about  14  feet  in  width,  assaying  from  IJ  to  25  per  cent  copper. 
In  dei)th.  however,  the  vein  was  found  to  be  considerably  mixe«l  with 
slate,  and   the  grade   fell  off  from  «»  to  N   per  cent. 

"The  miners  at  Canipo  Seco  and  Lancha  IMana  shipped  several  thousand 
tons  of  chalcopyrite  ore.  but  the  grade  was  not  as  high  as  in  the  mines 
near  Copperopolis.  Between  lSt«  and  l.s<;!»  several  hundretl  tons  of  ore 
were  shipin-d  from  the  Napoleon  and  Quail  Hill  mines,  two  mines 
situated  some  six  miles  to  the  we.st  of  Coi)peropolis.  From  near  the 
surface  to  a  depth  of  about  li(M)  feet  the  ore  in  the  Napoleon  averaged 
L'O  per  cent  copix'r.  The  Quail  Hill  yielded  large  quantities  of  carbonates 
and  oxides  of  coi)per.  and  carried,  in  addition  to  the  copper,  considerable 
gold  and  silver.  Several  years  after  it  had  ceased  to  be  worked  as  a 
coi)per  mine,  a  forty-stamp  mill  was  erected  on  the  ground  and  an 
attempt  was  made  to  operate  it  as  a  gold  and  silver  projierty.  but  the 
saniruine  expectations  of  the  owners   were   far  from   realized. 

"I'.y  stains  and  other  in(lication.s  the  copper  belt  in  Calaveras  County 
can  be  traced  for  fully  thirty  miles,  and  during  the  early  sixties  literally 
thousands  of  claims  were  staked  out  along  its  course.  There  is  no  doubt 
but  that  systematic  work  would  result  in  the  development  of  many 
valuable  copper  properties  along  this  belt,  in  addition  to  those  now 
known   and   in   process  of  exploitation. 

"In  .Vmador  County,  the  old  .lackson.  afterward  known  as  the  Newton 
mine,  which  was  discovered  in  1S(;1.  yielded,  down  to  a  depth  of  liOO  feet, 
a  hiu'h  grade  of  chalcopyrite.  running  from  l'r>  to  :i."»  per  cent  copper, 
with  small  (|uantiti«-s  of  gold  and  silver.  Several  thousand  tons  of  ore 
were  shipped  from  this  mine,  most  of  which  went  to  (ireat  Britain;  but 
as  greater  depth  was  attained  the  grade  of  ore  decreased,  and  it  ceased 
to  pay  for  shipment  under  conditions  and  prices  which  then  prevailed. 

"From  the  Newton  mine  the  copper  belt  extended  north  to  the 
Cosumnes  River,  and  n(>ar  the  river  a  low-grade  deposit  was  opened  up. 
but  it  proved  too  poor  to  stand  the  expense  of  shipment.     Both  Mariposa 

3— BuL.  50 


34  THE  COPPER  RESOURCES  OF  CALIFORNIA. 

and  Fresno  counties,  as  then  known,  prwlnct-d  some  copi)er  ore.  The 
linihanan  mine  was  the  hir.i;est  property  in  that  section,  and  some 
hnndreds  of  tons  of  ore  were  shipped  from  it. 

"Hased  iiiion  the  early  day  prospects.  Tuohimne.  Mariposa.  ^ladera, 
Merced.  Slanishius.  Fresno,  and  Tulare  comities  should  prove  larjie 
producers  of  copper  when  their  resources  in  this  direction  shall  have 
received  proper  attention.  The  Santa  Cruz  Mountains  yielded  several 
hundred   tons  of  ore  in  the  year  ISCT. 

"Earlier  than  this  considerable  very  high-grade  ore.  carrying  as  much 
as  4S  iHM-  cent  copper,  with  2  ounces  of  gold  and  4<l  ounces  of  silver  per 
ton.  was  shipped  from  (ienesee  Valley  in  I'lumas  County,  the  means  of 
transportation  being  by  teams  to  Marysville  and  thence  by  boat  to  San 
Francisco. 

"I  Hiring  the  period  extending  from  1!S<)2  to  lytjo.  Del  Norte  County 
ranked  second  only  to  Ca'laveras  in  the  iiroduction  of  copper  ore.  The 
largest  mine  in  Del  Norte  was  known  as  the  Low  Divide,  next  to  wliidi 
came  the  I'nion.  while  the  Occidental  and  other  mines  produced  compara- 
tively small  fpiantities  of  ore.  In  Del  Norte  the  copper  belt  extended 
north  and  south  for  a  distance  of  about   ten  miles. 

"The  old  Zinc  House  mine,  near  the  Empire  ranch,  in  Nevada  County, 
shipped  considerable  quantities  of  high-grade  carbonates  and  oxides,  but 
no  large  (niantities  of  chalcopyrite.  as  in  the  case  of  most  of  the  mines 
then  shii^piug.  The  mine,  however,  contained  large  quantities  of  pyritic 
ore.  but  the  percentage  of  copper  contained  was  not  sufficient  to  make  it 
a  shipi)ing  proi)osition.  Subsecjuently  this  low-grade  material  was  very 
successfully  worked  by  open-air  roasting,  leaching,  and  precipitation  of 
the  copper  on  iron. 

"In  Shasta  County  copper  was  discovered  and  mined  at  Copper  City, 
then  known  as  Williams,  as  early  as  ISdli.  In  IM^hi  some  '2~>{)  tons  of 
the  ore  were  shipped  to  San  Francisco,  but  on  sampling  it  was  found  to 
contain  only  S  per  cent  cojjper.  and  was.  therefore,  of  no  value.  On 
being  assayed  further,  it  showed  a  value  of  $40  per  ton  in  gold  and  $20 
in  silver.  It  wajs  shipped  to  Swansea,  and  gave  a  small  margin  of  profit. 
"Small  quantities  of  copper  ore  were  shii)i)ed  to  San  Franci.sco  from 
Colusa  County  during  the  period  from  isij'J  to  1S<>4.  Some  of  the  ore 
mined  from  near  the  surface  was  very  rich  in  coi)per.  lint  the  grade 
deteriorated   very   rai)idly  with  depth. 

"It  was  well  known  in  these  early  days  that  coi)per  dei)Osit.s  exi.sted  in 
San  Bernardino  County  and  other  southern  counties,  hut  their  distance 
from  shii)ping  points  rendered  them  valueless  at  that  time. 

"During  all  this  period  the  product  of  our  copper  mines  had  to  be 
transported  first  to  San  Francisco  and  thence  shii)i)ed  to  Boston,  Balti- 
more, or  Swansea.  From  lSt»2  to  ISii."  the  i)rice  of  copiier  ranged  from 
$4  to  $.">  per  unit :  that  is.  an  ore  containing  20  per  cent  co|)per  was 
worth  from  $80  to  $100  iier  ton  of  237014  pounds,  delivered  at  any  of 
these  three  i)oints.  Nothing  was  ))aid  for  any  gold  in  the  ore  below  one 
ounce  per  ton.  and  from  the  silver  contents  a  deduction  was  made  of 
three-fourths  of  an  ounce  for  each  one  per  cent  of  copper.  After  com- 
mencing to  fall,  the  i)rice  of  copjier  soon  reached  a  jioint  as  low  as  .$.1.20 
per  unit.  It  was  this,  coujiled  with  the  natural  lowering  of  grade  as 
dei>th  was  attained,  which  sank  the  copjier  industry  of  California  into 
the  ]irof()Uiid   slumlier   from   which   it   is  only  just   awakening. 

"The  following  pru  funna  statement  of  a  shipment  to  Swan.sea  may 
prove    interesting    at    this    time.      The    copper    ton    there    is    21    hundred- 


IIISTORIC.M-    NOTKS.  35 

\v»'i;;lit.  or  l.';{.~>2  pouiKls.  to  wliicli  must  Iw  ;i<Ii1l'(1.  on  fori'i;;ii  ores.  .'I'j 
]ioiiiuls  (linftnK»'  pt'i*  •5  lnin<lrt'(l\v('i;;lir.  or  24 'j  pouiids  pt-r  ton,  niakinf: 
the  toil.  !is  reckoned.  "J.'JTlJ'.j  pounds. 

As.siiy     l.M..'!<i  piTiciii  copper. 

L.-ss     l.-'U) 


Xet     21MK)  per  cent. 

KM)  lon.s    (of  2:iT<"ii...   ll)s. ).  !it  .«.'   iier  tmit .Slo.tMMl  (M» 

l-'reiulii    from  mine  to  Stockton.  :it   .$N  jier 

ton  of  ItKK)  Ills $l>.-0  40 

Frei;rlit    fiom   Stockton   to  S;in    I'rancisco, 

jU  $1.U.")    141'  If. 

Sainplinj;    and    assayin;;.    San    Francisco. 

ai    .Sl.rnt    ITS  120 

Commissions.  San  Francisco,  2'_.  per  cent    2."iO  IM) 
Freiffht  from  San   Francisco  to   Swansea. 

at    .$L*0   i)er  '2-24()   lbs '-Ml-'O  <•<) 

Insurance,  o   per  cent :!<Mi  (M» 

E.vpenses  at  Swansea  : 

Sanii'linir.   .$1.."^1  per  2-J4(t   Il.s ITS  -JO 

Attendinj,'  sale  and  Kuaranlee.  .S  per  cent     ;J<H»  (Ml 

Harbor  and   town  dues '2{\  ~o 

Stamps,    stationery,    etc 10  (K) 

4.4.H>  2i; 


Net    value    .*.">. ."4.'>  T4 

"To  smelt  copper  ore  at  the  mine  was.  in  these  early  days,  simply  out 
of  the  (piestion.  The  tirst  smelting  works  in  California  con.sisted  of  a 
small  reverheratory  furna<H>.  erected  under  the  direction  of  the  writer  at 
.\nti(Kh.  in  Contra  Costa  County,  in  the  year  ISAwl.  The  fuel  was  coal 
from  the  Mount  Diablo  mines,  for  which  $S  i)er  ton  was  i»ai(l.  and 
althoujrh  lijjnite  is  not  a  very  good  fuel  for  reverheratory  furnaces,  with 
a  step  f;i"ate  fairly  Kood  results  were  obtained,  and  no  difficulty  was 
experienced  in  producing  a  matte  carryin};  from  4.">  to  4.S  i)er  cent  copper. 
Uoastin^  was  almost  entirely  dis])ensed  with,  as  there  was  an  abundant 
supply  of  low->;rade  oxi(liz<'(l  ores  to  mix  with  the  sul|)hides.  These 
works  were  of  a  purely  experimental  capacity,  not  over  ten  tons  per  day. 
and  althoimh  several  thousand  tons  were  smelted,  the  subsetiuent  fall  in 
the  price  of  coiiiier  ^'ave  no  encourairement  to  an  increase  in  their  cai)acity. 
aiiil  tliey  finally  ceased  ojierations.  At  the  Union  copper  mine,  Copper- 
npolis.  a  small  blast  furnace  was  erected  under  the  direction  of  Constantine 
Ilensch.  and  this  produced  considerable  (piantities  of  a  very  hi;rh-^'rade 
matte.  At  the  Campo  Seco  mine.  Calaveras  County,  several  thousand 
tons  of  ore  were  treat(>d  by  kernel  roasting,  and  with  some  success.  A 
reverheratory  furnace  was  erected  on  the  Cosumnes  liiver.  and  produced 
considerable  matte  of  fairly  f.'ood  (inality." 

Tills  pffidd  of  activity  practically  closed  in  18()8  with  a  fall 
in  llic  price  of  copper,  increased  co.st  of  mining  and  lessened 
values  as  depth  was  attained,  and  the  persistent  failure  of  most 
properties  to  pay  dividends.    The  report  of  J.  Ross  Browne  for 


36 


TllK  COPPER  RESOURCES  OF  CALIFORNIA. 


1867  was  made  near  the  end  of  this  productive  era.  and  the 
statement  there  ^iven  of  the  shipments  of  copper  ore  and 
rejrnlns  (matte)  is  approximately  complete  for  that  decade. 
The  following  tahU'  is  taken  from  that  report: 


i 


Copper  Exports  from  San  Francisco,  1862-1867. 

[Tons  of  2370  poll  mis.] 


To  New  York. 

To  Boston. 

To  England. 

Total. 

Year. 

Ores. 

Regulus. 

Ores. 

Regulus. 

Ores. 

Regulus. 

Ores. 

Regulus. 

1862 

86 
1,337 
4,905ig 
4,146^0 
9,962^ 
2,633 

3,574jg 

4,208}g 

5,064 

9,050 

4,5.36jg 

3,660ig 

5,553}8 

10,234^ 

17,787  J  8 

2G,883ig 

4,.511 

1863 

264/ff 
2.59ljg 
12,384jg 
1,378 

1864 

1865 

25 
422 
178 

25 

1866 

80i8 
14lig 

502^8 

1867 

319J8 

Totals 

•2Z,0-0^a 

625 

26,434;^ 

17,126  Jg 

22*2^ 

68,631^ 

847A 

The  report  of  J.  Ross  Browne  on  the  ]\Iineral  Resources  of 
the  United  States  west  of  the  Rocky  Mountains  for  1868  gives 
the  following  statement  of  the  noteworthy  smelting  plants  for 
the  reduction  of  copper  ores  which  had  been  erected  in  Cali- 
fornia : 


Location. 

County. 

Style  of  Furnace. 

Estimated 
Cost. 

Antioch 

Contra  Costa 

Calaveras 

Plumas 

Mariposa 

Mariposa 

Mariposa 

Placer  .. 

Welsh  .--. 

$25,000 

Copperopolis 

Genesee  Vallev 

German .. 

75,000 

Local    -        - 

30,000 

.Tames  Ranch 

Bear  Vallev       

Haskell's 

Haskell's 

Haskell's 

Haskell's 

Haskell's 

Welsh 

20,000 
20,000 

Hunter  Valley 

20,0<K) 

Near  Placerville    - 

10,000 

Near  Ashton                 _  .. 

Colusa 

6,000 

Camno  Seco 

Calaveras -- 

30,000 

Total            

1236,000 

There  were  at  the  same  time  two  in  Oregon,  one  in  Nevada, 
and  one  in  Arizona.  The  following  comment  is  made:  "Several 
concentrating  and  roasting  works  have  also  been  erected  near 
some  of  the  copper  mines  at  considerable  expense.  Tlic  con- 
centrating works  at  the  Keystone  mine  at  Copperopolis  cost 
$50,000.  It  is  ((uite  fair  to  calculate  that  .$500,000  has  been 
expended  in  the  construction   of  smelting  and  concentrating 


HISTORICAL   NOTES.  37 

wcirUs  (111  this  coast  tluiiiiLf  IIh'  i)ast    t'lnir  years,  nearly  all  nl" 
which  has  proved  a  loss  for  the  reasons  stated." 

There  are  wide  (liscre|>an(ies  aiiioiiLr  llii-  ciirreiilly  recorded 
estimates  ot"  eopper  prinliict  ion  for  this  ami  tlie  siirceediii;: 
decade,  and.  in  fact.  I'nr  1  he  entire  time  up  t<»  lSi)4.  when  the 
State  .Miniiiir  i>nreaii  licLian  tiie  comiiijat  inn  uj"  annual  mineral 
statistics.  It  has  lieeii  round  iiiipossihie  to  ]>resent  any  record 
of  California's  total  co|)per  prodm-tion  worthy  to  he  dijznified 
as  statistics,  hut  such  li^nires  as  are  here  pr(>seiited  serve  to 
irive  a  ireiieral  coiiipi-ehension  ot"  the  productive  course  of  the 
industry.  Of  such  value  only  is  the  following;  statement  of 
copper  e.\|)orts  from  San  Francisco,  compiled  hy  a  San  Fran- 
cisco |)ai)er  in  187.1 : 

Tons.  Valuf. 

ISCI  1.7.-n  .$ll'L'.."iSl 

is<;i'  ;;.:m(  i.'!i;5.i!i4 

1  vr,;;  .-,.!i:W  r.i i'.'*:.'.'. 

is(;4  I4.:]ir>  i.inu.c.co 

1st;.-,  u.-...s:50  i.siii.:;(;o 

ise,r,  1M.S13  l.:is;j.s.-,i' 

iscT  7.s:::{  4lm .."  u\ 

isc.s  .-..077  L''J7.'.tL:."i 

1  se,n  -jJA^  1 1 7.i:{.'! 

1S70  LM'.-4  1  i:!.7:;l' 

is;71     L'..-.-.2  IL'I. '.!.".<  I 

1S7:.'    IM'.KJ  11.V.t7o 

1  s7:i    1  .S.TJ  1 1 4.S.-L' 

1.S74   i.;',.-L>  (;7.4uo 


ri' 


Total     !m;.(;7I  $7.4:51MtNit 

The  al)(»ve  statement  does  not  inlnrm  ns  what  ton  was  used 
as  a  hasis  of  calculation  for  a  period  when  the  short,  loni:-.  and 
W'ejsli  tons  were  Variously  so  used,  and  it  does  not  ilist  iiiiiuish 
hetweeii  copper  ores  ;iiiil  copper  matte.  It.  however,  corre- 
sponds in  a  Lidieral  way  with  the  annual  condition  of  the 
industry.  When  transcontinental  railroads  were  estahlished 
cop])er  shijtments  l)eLr«in  to  he  also  maile  liy  rail,  ami  the 
statistics  of  exports  by  sea  became  still  less  a  reliable  measure 
of  production.  From  the  beirinninir  shipments  l)y  sea  from  San 
Francisco  also  included  ores  and  some  matte  from  adjoin iny; 
States  and  Territories,  includiipj  liritish  Columbia.  Ore<?on, 
Nevada,  and  Arizona,  but  the  bulk  of  the  shipments  was  from 
California  mines.     During  the  decades  of  the  seventies  and 


38  THE  COPPER  RESOURCES  OF  CALIFORNIA. 

eighties  the  copper  industry  was  practieally  at  a  standstill  in 
this  State,  and  tlie  prodm-tion  of  cement  copper  by  the  leaching 
of  old  duini)s  provided  most  of  the  output,  the  product  in  the 
main  going  East  for  the  manufacture  of  mineral  paint. 

SHASTA  COUNTY. 

The  history  of  the  copper  industi-y  in  Shasta  County  is  part 
of  the  history  of  the  l)ase-ore  belt  now  known  as  the  copper 
belt ;  but  that  history  for  the  period  previous  to  1895  is  the 
history  of  attempts  to  mine  tlie  base  surface  ores  for  their 
precious  metal  values,  and  copper  cuts  but  a  very  small  inci- 
dental figure  in  the  story. 

The  occurrence  of  rich  copper  ores  in  this  mineral  belt  of 
Shasta  Couiily  was  noted  early  in  the  decade  of  tlie  fifties,  the 
discover^'  of  copjier  l)eing  in  fact  practically  contemporaneous 
witli  that  of  gold  and  silver,  and  cop])er  ores  were  fre({uent]\' 
noted  through  the  succeeding  years,  but  they  caused  no  effort 
at  their  exploitation  as  such.  Such  ores  were  encountered  in 
small  quantities  in  tunnels  which  were  opened  in  the  searcli 
for  gold  and  silver  in  the  l)ase-ore  deposits  of  the  middle  and 
eastern  parts  of  the  belt,  and  a  few  tons,  quite  rich  in  copper 
and  the  precious  metals,  were  shipped  at  different  times  to  San 
Francisco,  but  no  dej)osits  were  ever  opened  or  regarded  as 
valuable  chiefiy  for  their  copper.  For  over  a  generation  there 
Avas  not  only  no  recognition  of  copper  as  the  element  of  main 
importance  in  tliis  mining  district,  but  there  was  no  general 
recognition  of  the  nu^tal  as  one  of  tlie  imi)ortant  mineral 
resources  of  the  county.  In  1893.  but  two  years  before  the 
beginning  of  the  career  of  the  ^rouiitain  Copper  Company, 
copper  was  not  even  mentioned  in  a  review  of  the  mineral 
resources  of  Shasta  County  in  a  local  paper.  The  discovery 
that  great  bodies  of  sulphide  copper  ores  lay  buried  below  the 
gossan  cappings  of  the  belt  followed  tlie  fii-st  thorough  jiros- 
i:)ecting  of  the  Iron  ^Mountain  property,  which  begins  the  real 
history  of  the  copper  industry  in  this  district.  The  past  history 
of  the  belt  itself  is  one  of  gold  and  silver  mining  and  of  nearly 
forty  years  of  failure  thereat,  but  the  importance  which  co]>per 
has  suddenly  assumed  makes  this  related  history  pertinent  and 
of  interest. 


HISTORICAI-    NOTES — SHASTA    COUNTY. 


39 


The  sin-ract'  placci's  ul"  Shasta  ('(miily  wcrt'  still  rii-li.  and  its 
placiT  niiiiitiir  camps  were  prosperous  when  prospccttn's  first 
noted  Imtli  Lrt>ld  and  cupper  in  tlic  vein  format  ions  of  the  l»clt. 
Some  of  tlicsc  placci-  distiMcts  closely  llanked  the  copper  licit, 
and  had  jjaincd  the  troKl  in  their  Lii'avels  par11_\  from  the  ores 
in  the  helt  itself  and  jiaitly  from  the  ^'old  quart/  veins  adjacent 
to  the  helt.  'I'lici-c  appear  to  have  lieen  no  attempts  at  niiniiifx 
the  ores  of  the  helt  until  in  the  decade  of  the  sixties.     As  early 


SfRKACK  MIN1N(;    PLANT  Ol'  TIfE  MOUNTAIN  COPPER  COMPANY. 

IX    SI.ICK     ROCK    CANYON.    WITH     1  R(  ).V     MOUNTAIN 

AT   THE    RIGHT. 

as  18"):^  i)laeer  j^'old  was  discovered  in  the  re.Lrion  of  l^nlly  Hill, 
which  heeame  known  as  the  Pittshur<r  district,  by  a  man  named 
Watson,  with  whom  were  associated  Hiir.trs.  Tluijhes.  and  Silver- 
thorn.  With  this  discovery  l)e<:an  a  stamix'de  which  resultetl 
in  the  location  of  a  larirc  number  of  j)lacer  claims,  most  of 
which  w(>re  of  little  value.  Althouuh  s(tme  small  placers  are 
still  workeil  ill  this  district,  active  interest  had  lapsed  long 
before  1870. 

In   1862    sold   was   discovered    in    the   surface   rock   of   the 
Excelsior  claim,  near  the  |)resent  site  of  Copper  City,  by  Jack 


40 


THE  COPPER  RESOURCES  OF  CALIFORNIA. 


Killingrer  and  J.  P.  Williams.  The  ore  was  found  to  contain 
silver  as  well  as  jjold.  and  another  lusli  into  this  district  was 
begun  for  the  location  of  the  supposed  rich  veins  of  gold  and 
silver.  The  liills  were  covered  by  locations  for  many  miles. 
It  was  in  the  spring  of  1862  that  the  ground  now  covered 
by  the  Bully  Hill  and  adjoining  claims  was  tirst  located  by 


BLISTER   COPPER   FROM   THE   BULLY    HILL    SMELTER   AWAITING 

SHIPMENT. 

Alexander  Sanford.  and  the  story  of  the  Bully  Hill  miniim 
property  was  begun.  The  Killinger  and  Williams  company, 
which  was  incorporated,  sold  stock  and  began  the  operation  of 
their  mine,  which  was  continnod  until  ISGf).  A  shipnumt  of 
ore  was  made  to  Swansea,  and  realized  a  fair  {)rofit ;  luit  as 
later  shipments  were  less  fortunate,  they  were  not  long  con- 
tinued.    At  the  same  time  was  organized  the  Baxter  ]\Iininy 


o 


u 

7. 


4L*  the  copper  resources  of  CALIFORNIA. 

Company,  which  operated  on  adjoinino;  gronnd.  ^Meanwhile, 
at  Bnll\'  Hill.  ().  R.  Johnson  &  Co.  had  aiMpiired  some  of  the 
claims  located  by  Sanford  and  he^nn  operations  under  the 
corporate  name  of  the  liully  Hill  Cold.  Silver  and  Copper 
^lininu:  Company.  Xo  attempt  at  reduction  was  made.  l)ut 
exjiloitation  was  betiun  on  the  east  face  of  the  hill  at  the  site 
of  what  is  still  tunnel  Xo.  1  of  the  Bully  Hill  mine.  The 
work  was  not  successful,  and  the  claims  were  eventually 
abandoned.  In  this  period,  in  the  early  and  middle  sixties. 
Copper  City,  which  was  the  result  of  the  discoveries  and  the 
mining  life  of  this  district,  enjoyed  a  lively  boom  and  looked 
forward  to  a  long  and  great  career.  These  mining  enterprises, 
dealing  with  very  base  surface  ores  at  an  earl\'  stage  in  the 
development  of  lode  mining  in  the  State,  and  at  a  long  distance 
from  ore  markets,  soon  demonstrated  the  impossibility  of  realiz- 
ing profits,  the  bottom  dropped  out  of  the  mining  boom,  and 
little  was  done  for  another  decade. 

It  was  early  in  the  decade  of  the  sixties  that  Iron  Mountain 
began  to  cut  any  tigui-e  in  the  story.  William  ^lagee.  a  Ignited 
States  land  surveyor,  noted  the  enormous  capi)ing  of  gossan 
on  the  mountain,  and  in  association  with  Charles  Camden 
secured  the  property  as  an  iron  mine.  It  was  idly  held  as  a 
simple  iron  deposit  of  possible  future  value  until  1879. 

The  decade  of  the  seventies  brought  a  revival  of  interest  aiul 
activity  to  the  Pittsburg  district.  The  claims  in  Hully  Hill, 
which  had  been  abandoned  by  the  Bully  Hill  Company,  had 
been  relocated  by  T.  .M.  and  .1.  W.  Popejoy,  who  sold  them  to 
Alvin  Potter  &  Co.  in  1877.  Potter  reopened  and  retimbered 
the  old  tunnel  (Xo.  1).  and  at  the  same  time  carried  on  other 
developments.  Soon  the  property  passed  to  the  Extra  Mining 
Company,  which  built  the  first  mill  at  Copper  Cif.x'  in  1877. 
A  tramway  was  built  at  an  enormous  expen.se  to  convey  ores 
from  Bidly  Hill  by  gravity  to  the  mill.  During  the  few  years 
(perhaps  three  or  four)  in  which  the  company  ojierated,  it  was 
said  to  have  extracted  as  much  as  $H40,()00  from  these  ores, 
and  interest  on  borrowed  money,  a  part  of  the  principal,  and 
dividends  were  rapidly  ]iaid.  but  the  property  was  finally 
turned  over  to  creditors.  The  Extra  .Mining  Company  worked 
only  the  surface  ores  from  these  mines,  having  no  successful 
process  for  the  redm-tion  of  the  baser  ores,  though  an  attempt 


HISTORICAL    NOTES — SHASTA    COINTY.  -i'A 

Avas  made  at  roastiiitr.  Tlu'  mill  was  i-iin  lor  some  years  for  the 
(•nnlitors.  tli»nii,'li  not  very  successfully.  I^ater  .Messi-s.  Potter 
ami  Hall  ohtaiued  possession  of  the  mill  and  tramway,  i)ur- 
vhasetl  the  .Ienii>  .lune  claim  from  II.  ( ".  .McClure.  and  success- 
fully worked  these  ori's  for  a  time.  Imt  the  hase  ores  finally 
caused  them  to  al)andon  the  worl<. 

Iron  Mountain  makes  its  entr\  as  a  factor  in  the  industrial 
story  of  the  lielt  in  ISTfl.  In  that  year  James  Sallee,  whose 
name  was  thenceforth  to  be  prominently  a.ssociated  with  the 
development  of  the  (•o|>per  belt,  visited  Shasta  County  and 
incidentally  Ii'on  Mountain.  1 1  is  assays  of  surface  ores  revealed 
the  presence  of  silver  and  irold.  and  the  outccmie  of  his  discovery 
was  the  ae(|nirement  of  a  om*-tliird  interest  in  the  property  by 
him.self  and  Alvin  Potter,  under  whose  direction  the  mine  be^an 
the  second  period  of  its  evolution. 

This  tliscovery  was  soon  noised  al)road  and  a  cliaracteristic 
stampede  to  the  reirion  ensued.  Thi^  i)opular  effect  is  well 
sliown  in  a  news  letter  to  the  Mininir  and  Scientific  Press  from 
a  "Whiskeytown  correspondent  in  .lune.  1880.  He  writes  in 
l>art  :  "At  this  particular  time,  in  this  part  of  Shasta  County, 
the  silver  boom  is  up  hi^'h.  and  such  expressions  as  'the  most 
e.xtensive  and  the  richest  silver  ledire  the  world  has  ever  seen' 
are  frecpient.  Some  five  or  six  miles  from  the  ancient  town  of 
Shasta  was  known  to  exist  what  was  called  Ii'on  .Mountain. 
Xothinii  was  expected  of  it.  and  no  one  prospected  there.  A 
curious  expert  came  fi-om  the  city  and  has  been  secretl\'  looking 
at  its  formations,  assays  have  Ihch  m.-idc  of  his  finds,  and  now 
the  whole  country  is  wild  and  claims  are  staked  off  for  miles. 
A  new  silver  belt  has  been  discovered,  the  assays  of  which  <ro 
away  up  into  the  hundreds." 

Sallee  found  his  ^-old  and  silver  values  in  the  <rossan  crusts 
<»f  the  surface,  and  this  mat(»rial  constituted  the  ore  that  was 
subsecpiently  worked,  rnder  the  direction  of  Sallee  and  Potter 
ore  was  transported  by  pack  train  and  wa«ron  to  Redding,  and 
from  this  point  was  shipped  by  i-ail  to  reduction  works  in 
Denver.  Colorado.  The  <tre  was  of  sufficient  value,  however,  in 
spite  of  this  laborious  method  of  handlintr.  to  provide  tin-  means 
of  construetinjr  a  waj^on  i-oad  from  the  mines  to  the  railroad  at 
^liddle  Creek,  a  distance  of  ei<rht  or  more  miles.  With  the 
comjilefion  of  this  wairon  ntarl  the  handling'  of  the  ores  was  to 


44 


THE  COPPER  RESOURCES  OF  CALIFORNIA. 


some  extent  simplified  and  the  expense  of  its  reduction  was 
eorrespondingly  lessened.  The  exact  results  of  this  method  of 
work  are  not  known,  althou^'h  it  was  kept  up  for  some  years, 
evidently  with  some  profit. 

In  18S4.  John  O.  Earl  and  Charles  Ellsworth,  repre.sentino:  a 
Honolulu  company,  bonded  the  property  with  the  intent  of 
huyincr  it.  and  proceeded  with  the  neji;()tiations  to  the  point  of 
making'  a  payment  of  .$30,000  and  completing;  its  ecjuipment 
with  an  elaborate  plant.  Tin-  equipment  of  the  mine  included 
a  20-stamp  mill.  125-horsepower  engine,  boilers,  pans,  and 
settlers,  and  in  addition  a  small  sawmill.  Before  any  produc- 
tion was  effected,  however,  the  entire  plant  and  mine  were 
returned  to  the  orijrinal  owners  for  a  consideration  of  $10,000. 
James  Sallee.  as  part  owner  and  superintendent  of  the  newly 
ecpiipped  mine,  undertook  its  operation  and  worked  it  success- 
fully until  it  was  .sold  to  the  present  owners,  to  whom  it 
appeared  as  an  inmiense  deposit  of  valuable  copper  ore. 

The  first  recognition  of  the  possibilities  of  this  mine  as  an 
available  copper  deposit  was  by  Iluuh  [McDonald,  who  called 
it  to  the  attention  of  Judge  X.  F.  Cleary.  Tlie  bond  obtained 
t)y  McDonald  was  transferred  to  Cleary,  Avho,  through  the 
inriuence  of  Alexander  Hill  of  the  Rio  Tinto  mine,  was  suc- 
cessful in  effecting  its  sale  to  tlie  Rotlischild  and  Fielding 
people  of  London  and  New  York.  These  factions  combined  in 
its  purchase,  paying  for  the  property  the  sum  of  $800,000.  and 
estal)lishing  a  working  capital  of  $200,000.  This  deal  was 
consummated  in  the  early  part  of  IS!)").  The  new  company 
incorporated  as  the  ^Mountain  Mining  Company,  and  began  at 
once  the  development  of  theii-  deposits,  the  building  of  a  r.iil- 
road.  and  the  erection  of  a  suitable  reduction  plant.  In 
September.  1895,  a  formal  transfer  of  the  Fielding  interests 
was  made  to  the  [Mountain  [Mining  C(mipany.  Ltd.,  which 
continued  its  operations  under  the  management  of  [Mr.  Hill. 
In  January.  1>S!)7.  the  jiroperty  was  transferred  to  the  [Moun- 
tain Copper  Company  of  London. 

The  history  of  the  Peck  and  Afterthought  mines  in  the  Cow 
Creek  district  has  l)een  in  many  respects  parallel  to  that  of  the 
Iron  [Mountain  and  the  Bully  Hill.  The  earliest  attempts  at 
operation  were  made  for  the  extraction  of  gold  and  silver  values 
from  the  oxidized  surface  ores.     Later  an  effort  was  made  to 


HISTORICAL   NOTES — SHASTA    COUNTY.  45 

Work  tlic  baser  ores  l)y  a  process  n\'  roast ini:  and  niilliuiLr. 
C.  ^r.  Peek,  who  had  erected  the  first  oiv  mill  in  the  vicinity  of 
Copper  City,  also  pnt  up  the  first  furnace  for  sineltinjr  in 
Shasta  Couiity.  Ilavinu:  obtained  foi'  a  nominal  sum  the 
property"  aftt'iwafd  incorporated  and  known  as  the  Peck  mine, 
and  HOW"  included  in  the  Afterthouirht  mine,  he  betran  its  snc- 
ees.sful  operation  upon  the  oxidizetl  surface  ores.  In  187;")  he 
erected  a  small  reverberatory  furnace,  in  which  wood  was  to 
be  used  as  a  fuel  in  the  reduction  of  the  baser  ores.  Naturally 
this  attiMnpt  was  not  successful,  as  these  ores  have  since  defied 
more  ri^'orous  methods.  Upon  the  advice  of  a  Mr.  Williams, 
a  secontl  furnace,  of  the  water-jacket  pattern,  was  built,  in 
which  charcoal  was  to  be  used.  The  refractory  character  of 
the  ore.  which  occasioned  repeated  freezing  and  other  difficul- 
ties which  could  not  then  be  surmounted,  proved  to  be  too  much, 
and  this  attempt  also  ended  in  failui'c.  It  was  claimed,  how- 
ever, that  a  continuous  and  fairly  successful  run  of  seven  days 
was  made  at  one  time.  The  quantity  of  charcoal  required 
amounted  to  nearly  1000  bushels  per  day.  Subsequently,  John 
Williams,  father  of  the  former  su|ierintendent,  and  afterward 
a  man  named  (Jerrish,  made  other  \uisucce.ssful  attempts  to 
reduce  the  ore  in  the  same  furnace. 

Later  on  this  property  was  acquired  by  Joseph  Cone  and 
others  of  Retl  IMulV,  who  erected  a  small  water-jacket  furnace 
of  25  tons  cajiacity.  Two  attempts  were  made  with  this 
furnace,  both  of  wliich  tcrniiiiated  wifhouf  success.  During: 
the  period  in  which  Peck  operated  in  this  district,  he  had 
discovered  the  Donkey  mine,  which  he  sohl  to  A.  J.  Cook  for 
the  sum  of  $110(1.  The  ores  of  this  mine  are  similai'  to  those 
of  the  Afterfhouuht. 


4(5  THE  COPPER  RESOURCES  OF  CALIFORNIA. 


SHASTA  COUNTY. 


Shasta  County  commands  first  and  chief  attentidii  in  a  survey 
of  the  present  condition  of  California's  rising;  copper  indnstry. 
In  its  great  copper  "or  "l)ase-ore"  belt,  which  enrves  as  a 
thirty-mile  string  of  ore  deposits  through  its  west  central  part, 
are  the  mines  and  smelting  i)lants  which  yield  most  of  the 
current  copper  output  of  the  State,  and  the  various  extensive 
ore  bodies  whose  exploitation  gives  the  chief  promise  of  an 
early  and  marked  increase  of  copper  production.  While  the 
copper  industry  is  directly  confined  in  Shasta  County  to  one 
definite  mineral  belt,  the  county  as  a  whole  presents  various 
features  contributing  to  the  exceptionally  favorable  conditions 
surrounding  the  industry. 

The  county  lies  in  the  mountainous  region  about  the  head  of 
the  Sacramento  Valley,  nearly  equally  distant  from  the  western, 
northern,  and  eastern  boundaries  of  the  State,  and  is  about  90 
miles  in  length  and  60  miles  in  width,  having  an  area  of  3675 
sfjuare  miles.  The  western  border  of  the  county  is  along  the 
Trinity  range  summit,  and  the  county  reaches  eastward  high 
up  the  slope  of  the  Sierra  Nevada  range,  which  liears  westward 
and  merges  with  the  Coast  Range  in  Shasta  and  Siskiyou 
counties.  Short,  irregular  ranges  fill  tlie  greater  part  of  the 
county  between  tlie  main  ranges  to  the  east  and  west.  The 
Sacramento  Valley  thrusts  its  rapidly  narrowing  northern  end 
a  short  distance  up  into  the  southwestern  part,  affording  the 
principal  agricultural  and  horticultural  region  of  the  county 
and  meeting  the  long  canyon  of  the  Sacramento  River  a  little 
above  Redding,  about  20  miles  above  the  southern  boundary. 

In  the  southeastern  corner  of  the  county  is  Lassen  Peak, 
an  extinct  volcano,  the  lavas  from  wliich  have  blanketed  the 
eastern  portion  of  the  cou)ity  as  far  as  the  Sacramento  River. 
From  the  valley  and  lower  foothills  of  the  southern  part  of 


SHASTA    COUNTY.  4< 

tilt'  (■(•iiiity  the  sui't'iicc  iiiriU'iist's  ill  iMiu'LTt'iliu'ss  Mild  t-lcviit  i<tii 
northward,  as  well  as  eastward  ami  westward,  until  altitudes 
of  5000  to  HOOO  feet  are  reached.  The  copper  helt  oecupie.s  a 
jiositiou  iMtweeii  ihese  e.xtreiiips.  the  altitudes  of  mountain 
sinnmits  and  caiixon  thiol's  aloiii;'  the  belt  irenerallN'  ranj;in»^ 
between  1000  and  :i(iOO  feet. 

Nature  has  ^iven  this  county  a  splendid  water  supply.  The 
rainfall.  oceui"rin<j  chiefly  in  the  winter,  exceeds  forty  ineh(>s 
as  a  r\iU\  and  the  snows  of  the  hiiiher  ranges  maintain  the 
streams  throuirhout  the  summer  months.  The  principal  streams 
are  the  Sacramento.  Met 'loud,  and  Pitt  rivers,  the  first  two 
risin«r  in  the  mountains  above  the  northern  houndarw  and  the 
last  in  Modoe  County.  The  Sacramento  tlows  southward 
throu<rh  the  western  half  of  the  county  in  a  deep,  sinuous,  and 
exceedintrly  picturestjue  canyon,  crossinu  the  copper  belt  a  little 
above  the  apex  of  the  Sacramento  Valley  plain.  The  torrential 
l*itt  cro.sses  the  axis  of  the  Sierra  ranjje  throujxh  heavy  forests 
and  deep  canyons  to  join  the  Sacramento  in  the  midst  of  the 
copper  belt.  The  no  less  pictures(|ue  ^IcCloud  discharges  into 
the  Pitt  amid  the  <rossan  capi)in<rs  of  the  copper  deposits.  Trib- 
utary creeks,  prominently  identified  with  tlie  copper  belt,  also 
cro.ss  it  on  both  sides  of  the  Sacramento,  and  are  valuable 
sources  of  water  supplies.  There  is  thus  a  freneral  eonverjrence 
of  tlie  important  rivers  and  creeks  of  the  county  in  and  throujjh 
the  chief  mineral  retrion. 

The  streams  afford  exceptionally  valuable  power  resources. 
Their  fall  is  raj)id.  their  volume  reliable,  and  th(^  opportmiities 
for  the  utilization  of  their  waters  for  "reneratinp:  electric  power 
are  many.  The  Pitt  presents  many  falls  and  cascades,  and 
F'all  Riv("r  Mows  over  a  precipice  sixty  feet  hi<:h  just  before 
joininir  the  Pitt,  hiirh  in  the  mountains.  Im-portaut  electric 
transmission  plants  are  now  in  operation. 

The  county  has  almost  inexhaustible  supplies  of  timber  in 
heavy  forests  of  yellow  and  suirar  |)ine  and  fir.  clustered  in  the 
hijxher  ranjres  about  the  upper  courses  of  the  chief  rivers,  those 
alon?  the  Pitt  beinfr  especially  available.  Most  of  the  timber 
and  wood  now  used  in  lar'jre  (piantities  by  the  principal  iiiinin<r 
companies  is  floated  down  from  these  sources.  p]lsewhere 
through    the    county,    and    adjacent    to   tlie    miniiiLr    districts. 


48  THE  COPPER  RESOURCES  OF  CALIFORNIA. 

generally,  the  timber  supplies  are  scant  or  inferior,  as  a  rule, 
though  on  the  higher  ridges,  and  on  the  more  moist  northern 
slopes  of  others,  the  yellow  pine  is  here  and  there  found  in 
satisfactory  abundance,  and  is  extensively  utilized.  In  the 
foothill  zone  tlie  forest  growths  comprise  mainly  black,  white, 
and  live  oaks  and  "digger  pine,"  and  there  are  widespread 
growths  of  underbrush  (chaparral),  along  with  scrub  oaks  and 
small  pines. 

The  California  and  Oregon  line  of  the  Southern  Pacific  rail- 
way system  crosses  the  county  .iiid  the  copper  Ijelt  along  the 
course  of  the  Sacramento  River,  and  this  important  mining 
field  thus  has  the  advantage  of  close  proximity  to  a  main  com- 
mercial highway.  Several  efforts  have  been  made  to  accom- 
l)lish  the  construction  of  a  railroad  westward  from  Redding 
through  Trinity  and  IIuml)oldt  counties  to  Eureka  on  the 
Pacific  coast,  to  open  up  a  splendid  mining  region  in  the  Coast 
ranges. 

While  the  copper  belt,  with  which  this  Bulletin  is  chiefiy 
concerned,  is  now  by  far  the  leading  feature  of  Shasta  County's 
mineral  resources,  those  resources  are  varied  and  (juite  widely 
distributed  elsewhere.  The  eastern  half  of  the  county  being 
generally  buried  under  lava  deposits  which  effectually  hide  the 
minerals  that  undoubtedly  exist,  the  mining  industry  is  con- 
fined to  the  western  jxirtion.  The  crescent-shape  copper  belt 
presents  its  eastern  end  a  little  south  of  the  center  of  the 
county,  the  belt,  as  indicated  by  exposures,  being  prolonged 
eastward  into  the  lava  sheet ;  l)ut  'with  this  exception,  the 
county's  mining  industry  is  confined  to  the  western  third  of  the 
county,  and  mainly  to  tlie  portion  west  of  the  Sacramento 
River. 

There  were  ri<'h  early  placers  in  this  region,  and  extensive 
recent  and  ancient  auriferous  gravel  deposits  remain,  affording 
ojiportunitics  for  various  forms  of  ])lacer  mining,  including 
gold  dredging.  (Quartz  mining  was  of  slow  development,  owing 
to  the  base  character  of  the  ores  in  most  of  the  districts  in  wliich 
gold-bearing  veins  were  early  discovered.  Several  quartz  min- 
ing districts  have  been  more  or  less  successfully  exploited,  the 
most  noted  one  being  the  French  (Julcli  district  at  the  western 
side  of  tli<'  county,  in  which  the  important  Niagara  and  Glad- 


SHASTA    COUNTY.  49 

stone  mines,  yieklinj;  free-mill  in*,'  ores,  wci-c  developed  many 
years  ago.  Other  quartz  mining  ilisli-ii-ts  .iic  distrihuted  along 
the  western  side  of  the  eounty  for  sixty  miles.  The  ores  of 
these  distriets  are  free-milling  in  some  places,  hut  are  usually 
base,  and  tliey  are  variously  eliaraeterized  by  the  presence  of 
gold,  gold  and  silver,  and  gold,  silver  and  copper,  in  association 
with  baser  metals.  To  these  districts  ndniug  enterprise  is  newly 
turning,  giving  pi-omise  of  important  new  discovei-ies  and 
developments. 

The  iccent  exploitation  of  the  copjx'r  mines  has  i)laced  Shasta 
far  ill  till-  lead  of  llie  niiiieral-producing  counties  of  llie  Stale. 
Its  total  mineriil  oiilpiil  in  llKKi  was  .^o. 745.84.'?.  Of  this  output, 
$4,838,121  was  in  coitper.  'I'lie  iioid  and  silver  carried  by 
the  cop|)er  ores  smelted  and  the  silicious  ores  used  as  tluxes. 
togethei-  with  the  outjiut  of  i)lacei'  and  (|uartz  mines  in  districts 
outside  the  copper  belt,  atforded  $1,253,(J27  in  the  jirecious 
metals,  of  which  $S1!),144  was  in  gold  and  >{!4;54.48:?  (coinage 
value)  in  silver.  This  made  Shasta  also  the  leading  silver- 
producing  county  of  the  State.  In  1896,  just  Ix'fore  copper 
l)roduetion  began,  the  total  mineral  outi)nt  was  imt  51^813,503. 
The  mineral  statistics  for  1907  show  that  27,844,364  pounds  of 
copper  were  j)rodnced,  valued  at  $5,568,873.  further  iiici-easing 
Sha.sta's  mineral  preeminence.  Shasta's  total  ]>roduction  of 
all  minerals  in  1907  was  $7,084,706.  of  which  $791,997  was  in 
gold  and  $370,211  in  silver.  Vai'ious  niinei'a!  products  are 
minor  features  of  the  record. 

The  following  table,  giving  the  annual  values  of  the  tlin'e 
chief  mineral  products  and  the  total  annual  mineral  produc- 
tion from  1894  to  1907,  inclusive,  shows  the  expansion  due  to 
the  i-ecent  (leveloinneut  of  the  copper  industry.  Besides  the 
value  of  gold,  silver,  and  coj)per.  the  totals  include  the  minor 
mineral  products,  embracing  $1500  in  iion  in  1894.  chrome  in 
1895  and  1900.  and  mineral  waters,  lime,  limestone,  and  l)rick 
in  most  of  the  .vears.  The  gold  increase  is  comparatively  small, 
owing  to  the  closing  of  several  important -gold  mines  at  about 
the  period  that  the  ^Mountain  Topper  Company  began  pro- 
ducing gold  as  a  by-product.  The  large  increase  in  silver  in 
1900  was  partly  due  to  its  being  measured  in  coinage  value  for 
that  year  instead  of  in  commercial  value  as  in  preceding  years: 

4— BuL.  50 


50 


THE  COPPER  RESOURCES  OF  CALIFORNI.V. 


Ye.\r. 

Gold. 

Silver. 

Copper. 

All  Minerals. 

1894    --  - 

$617,436 
781,696 
51^9,209 
569,071 
860,180 
873,719 
733,467 
927.975 
878,706 
771,242 

1,031,429 
684,952 
819,144 
791,997 

$5,032 

28,417 

24,233 

96,869 

171,868 

1!HJ,213 

635.640 

891,994 

306,887 

203,991 

399,660 

167,548 

434,483 

370,211 

$715,769 

1895 

811,233 

1896 

$184,208 
1,5.35,966 
2,465,830 
3,ri(J5,023 
4,166,735 
4,881,048 
2,496.731 
2,171.497 
3.439.974 
1,688,614 
4,338,121 
5,568,873 

813,593 

1897 — 

2,224,700 

1898       

3,510,728 

1899..  

4,661,980 

1900.- 

5,574,026 

1901    — 

6,737,571 

1902         - 

3,730,049 

1903 

3,201 ,680 

1904 

4,898,033 

1905    - 

2,579,014 

1906.  

5,745,843 

1907  

7,084,706 

Totals   ... 

$10,940,223 

$3,933,046 

$36,502,620 

$51,441,705 

As  these  figures  indicate,  copper  is  the  chief  product  and 
the  chief  basis  of  the  mining:  prosperity  and  prospects  of  the 
county.  All  of  the  silver  is  produced  by  the  smelters  from 
ores  mined  chiefly  for  their  copper;  and  in  the  temporary 
absence  of  production  in  some  important  mines,  the  gold 
output  has,  until  recent  1\-.  been  sustained  in  the  same  way. 

At  the  present  time  several  prominent  independent  gold- 
producers  are  being  operated,  and  the  output,  exclusive  of 
gold  produced  l)y  ores  mined  chiefly  for  copper,  is  as  great  as 
it  has  been  at  any  time  during  the  past  ten  or  fifteen  years. 


THE  COPPER  BELT. 

Shasta  County's  copper  belt  is  composed  of  a  series  of  ore 
deposits  arranged  in  the  form  of  a  crescent,  which  bends 
through  the  low  mountains  and  foothills  directly  north  of  the 
head  of  the  Sacramento  Valley,  and  which  spans  a  distance  of 
about  twenty-five  miles  between  the  eastern  and  western 
horns.  The  apex  of  the  Sacramento  Valley  plain  and  the 
city  of  Redding  are  near  its  western  end  and  but  a  little  south 
of  the  chord  of  the  arc  described  by  the  belt.  Iron  Mountain, 
at  the  end  of  the  western  horn,  is  about  ten  miles  northwest  of 
Redding,  in  a  direct  line,  and  the  eastern  horn,  in  the  Furnace- 
ville  district,  is  about  twenty  miles  n(irth  of  east  from  the  same 
point.  The  length  of  the  belt  is  approximately  thirty  miles, 
and  the  width  from  one  half  to  four  miles. 

The  term  "belt"  is  used  with  the  broad  meaning  which  it 


SHASTA    COUNTY — THE   COPPER    BELT.  51 

propt'i'ly  carrii's,  and  not  as  syiioiiynums  with  "lotlt'."  Tin- 
ore  deposits  do  not  mark  a  praetieally  continuous  tissure 
system  in  which  directly  related  vein  formations  have  resulted, 
l)ut  occur  as  disconnected  masses,  or  frroups  of  vein  formations, 
forming'  individual  lodes  and  districts.  These  jrroups  of 
deposits  vai\\  in  foi'm  of  occurrence  from  massive,  tlat-lyin<r, 
lenticular  hvds  of  sulphides  on  the  west,  to  irretrular  vein 
fonnations  in  the  eastern  half  of  the  belt,  and  they  also  vary 
in  their  mineralization;  but  they  are  successively  ranfjed,  with 
considerable  re<rularity,  alon^  the  curved  line  described,  form- 
in«r  a  belt  three  or  four  miles  wide  in  places.  In  several  ways 
this  series  of  deposits  presents  features  of  unity  and  individu- 
ality, which  enforce  its  conception  as  one  definite  mineral  belt, 
and  which  .set  it  apart  from  other  ore  deposits  in  thai  part  of 
the  State. 

The  belt  is  throughout  superficially  marked  by  massive 
exposures  of  the  gossan  which  nearly  everywhere  caps  its 
mineralized  formations.  I'pon  the  elevations  between  the 
canyons  cut  by  the  streams,  these  dark  croppings  of  the  iron 
oxides  resulting  from  the  decomposition  of  surface  sulphide 
ores  .stand  out  in  places  with  striking  boldness.  A  cursory 
survey  of  the  belt  as  a  whole  shows  these  ferruginous  surface 
formations  to  be  practically  continuous  throughout,  but  in  an 
irregular  and  disjointed  way.  and  coursing  in  varying  direc- 
tions. Especially  striking  is  the  great  gossan  cap  of  Iron 
^Mountain,  with  which  the  belt  worthily  begins,  or  ends.  The 
ridge  forming  this  mountain  rises  neai'iy  a  thousand  feet  above 
Slick  Rock  and  Boulder  creeks  on  either  side,  over  a  mile  apart, 
and  at  the  top  the  gos.san  formation,  300  feet  wide,  displays 
nearly  perpendicular  walls  that  rise  high  above  the  top  of  the 
slope  into  which  the  tunnels  of  the  Mountain  Copper  Company 
open.  Southerly  fnmi  Iron  ^Mountain  but  two  or  three  known 
copper  deposits,  widely  separated,  occur,  the  mineral  formations 
of  the  belt  being  succeeded  through  the  adjacent  regions  by 
gold  fjuartz  veins. 

For  ten  miles  northea.sterly  from  Iron  [Mountain  and  nearly 
to  the  Sacramento  River,  the  belt  is  outlined  by  a  quite  con- 
tinuous succession  of  both  gossan  outcrops  and  important 
groups  of  copper  claims,  in  many  of  which  exploration  is 
steadily  proceeding.     For  the   distance   named,   the  belt,   as 


52  THE  COPPER  RESOURCES  OF  CALIFORNIA. 

indicated  l)y  the  distribution  of  copper  mininii-  claims,  exhibits 
a  width  of  approximately  three  miles.  Between  lioiilder 
Creek,  ;i1  tlie  northern  side  of  Iron  Mountain,  and  the  Sacra- 
mento River,  the  belt  is  cut  through  by  three  deep  creek 
canyons. 

The  belt  intersects  the  Sacramento  River  at  al)out  the  point 
where  it  receives  the  Pitt,  antl  for  nearly  ten  miles  eastward  it 
exhil)its  its  gossan  croppings  on  both  sides  of  the  latter  stream, 
but  mainly  on  the  northern  side.  About  four  miles  east  of 
the  Sacramento  the  Pitt  is  joined  by  the  JNIcCloud  River,  which 
thus  ends  in  the  midst- of  the  copper  ])elt.  Farther  eastward 
the  belt  is  entered  by  the  Pitt  where  it  turns  on  its  tinal  west- 
ward course,  and  it  is  crossed  by  streams  tributary  to  the  Pitt 
and  Sacramento.  Through  the  whole  course  of  the  l)elt  a 
multitude  of  gulches  help  give  a  very  rugged  character  to  the 
region.  These  gashes  made  by  the  waters  in  tlie  "iron  hat" 
of  the  belt  further  diminish  its  apparent  continuity,  the  gossans 
having  here  and  there  been  eroded  away  or  covered  by  surface 
wash,  and  being  found  principally  on  the  elevations. 

The  geology  and  mineralogy  of  the  belt  are  specially  treated 
of  ill  llic  succeeding  section.  The  ore  deposits  are  composed 
iiiaiiily  of  sulphides  occurring  in  eru!)tive  formations.  West  of 
the  Sacramento  the  deposits  are  in  the  form  of  irregular  lenses 
in  flat  or  inclined  positions.  They  have  been  shown,  in  some 
cases,  to  be  several  hundred  feet  in  length  and  breadth,  with 
thicknesses  of  50  to  300  feet,  displaying  contents  amounting  in 
the  Iron  ;Mountain  and  Balaklala  mines  to  (juantities  exceeding 
a  million  tons,  and  indicating  similarly  large  proportions  in 
other  properties  of  smaller  development.  In  the  central  and 
eastern  portions  of  the  belt  the  ores  occur  in  vein  formations. 

The  ores' all  carry  gold  and  silver.  West  of  the  Sacramento 
River  the  percentages  of  the  precious  metals  are  small,  though 
constituting  an  important  element  of  the  ore  values.  The  Iron 
jNIountain  ores  are  stated  to  yield  about  $1  in  gold  and  two 
ounces  of  silver  per  ton,  and  these  quantities  are  probably 
characteristic  of  the  ores  of  the  other  deposits  of  that  part  of 
the  belt.  These  ores  carry  very  low  percentages  of  the  baser 
metals,  as  zinc,  antimony,  arsenic,  etc.  In  the  central  and 
eastern  districts  of  the  belt  the  gold  a^d  silver,  as  well  as  the 
copper  values,  are  frequently  much  higher  than  in  any  large 


SHASTA    COITNTY — THE   COPPER    BELT.  53 

ore   lioilics  (levolopotl   to   tlu'   west.   ;;iul   tlicy   carry   the   baser 
<'lciii('iits  in  nnicli  irrcatcr  (|uantity  and  variety.     Throu^'liout 
the   l)elt.  tlie  most    important   copper  i)roperties   iiave   in   past 
years  been  worked  for  the  irold  and  silver  values  remaininjr  in 
the  decomposed  putt  ions  of  the  deposits  near  the  surface  and 
above  the  eoppei-  sulphides  to  which  attention  is  Udw  diiTcted. 
Adjacent  to  different  parts  of  the  belt  are  <rol(l  (|u;ii-t/.  dis- 
tricts, in  which  are  many  veins  carrying'  low.  nicdiuni.  nv  hi'jh 
L'rade  ores,  which  are  base,  as  a  ruif.  and  can  not  be  efficiently 
and  profitably  reduced  l)y  milliim  processes,     'riie  wcslci-n  Ikh'u 
of  the   belt    is   |)ractically   surrounded    by   such    veins.      They 
occur  notal)ly   in   th(>   rcLrion  of  the  old  t(»wn  of  Shasta,   four 
miles  south  of  Iron  .Moinitain.  ami  are  distributed  for  scn'eral 
miles  south  and  east  of  this  end  of  the  belt  through  the  Shasta 
and  Flat  Ci'eek  districts,  the  latter  lyintr  between  the  belt  and 
tlie  Sacrameiiti)  Kiver.     Eastward  from  this  portion  of  the  l)elt. 
across  the  Sacramento  Rivei-  and  within  and  without  the  chord 
of  the  bell 's  ai'c.  is  the  Old  Di^trin<rs  district,  presenting'  <'i-oui)s 
of  i|uai-t/  claims  extending;  over  several  miles.     Some  imi)or- 
tant  (puirtz  mines  have  been  developed  in  these  districts,  inchul- 
in<r  the  Mount   Shasta   in  the  Shasta  district,  and  the  Texas 
Consolidated   in   the  latter.     Other  cpiartz  districts  similarly 
attend  the  belt  at  olhi-r  j)oints  alouir  its  course,  and  irold  (ptarl/ 
veins  ai'e  abundant    in   close  proximity  to  the  ])elt   i:enerally. 
These   silicious   ores   thus    provide    abundant    and    conveinent 
tluxintr  materials  for  use  in  smeltinu'  the  suli>hide  copper  ores. 
In  turn,  tlie  smelters  have  created  a  market  for  these  ores  and 
enabled  the  developnu'ut   and  mining'  of  a   numbei-  of  (piart/. 
properties.     The  stimulus  thus  afforded  (piartz  miiiiii'^  in  this 
rcirion  is  one  of  the  important  local  benefits  of  the  development 
i)f  the  cop|)ei-  iiulustry.     (Jold  ores  are  not  only  supplied  from 
closely  ad.jacent  districts,  but  are  hauled  by  teams  and  shij)ped 
by  rail  from  (piite  remote  localities,  includintr  points  in  Siskiyou 
and  Ti'inity  counties,  the  ores  beinu:  rich  enouirh  to  stand  the 
larire  transportation  costs. 

Other  tluxin«r  materials  are  e(pudl\-  plentiful  and  convenient. 
Iron  ores  and  limestone  are  also  used  for  tluxintr.  Limestones 
are  the  most  abundant,  and  are  found  alon?  lar^e  belts  near 
the  smelters.  The  supply  is  practically  inexhaustible.  Iron 
ores,  both  majrnetite  and  limonite,  have  been  used  for  some  of 


54  THE  COPPER  RESOURCES  OF  CALIFORNIA. 

the  more  refractory  sulphides,  l)iit  the  former  lias  not  been 
found  to  be  suitable  for  such  uses.  It  is  now  believed  that  a 
mixture  of  ores  from  this  belt  can  be  made  that  will  obviate 
the  use  of  iron  ores. 

The  copper  belt  thus  presents  many  favorable  conditions  for 
copper  mining  and  smelting.  There  are  distributed  through  a 
long  mineral  belt  massive  ore  deposits  whose  quantities,  as 
well  as  values,  are  attractive  to  conservative  mining  capital. 
These  deposits  are  usually  embedded  in  great  hills,  and  can  be 
economically  explored  and  mined  through  tunnels.  Water  is 
especially  abundant,  and  desirable  sites  for  reduction  works 
are  conveniently  available.  Opportunities  for  the  generation 
of  electric  power  are  widely  present.  The  belt  is  bisected  by  a 
main  railroad  lino,  and  highways  reacli  llic  various  districts. 
Climatic  conditions  are  all  favorable.  The  wood  and  timber 
supply  is  ample.  At  the  Keswick  smelters  wood  now  costs 
about  $4.25  per  cord.  Alal)ama  coke,  carrying  16  per  cent 
ash,  can  be  delivered  at  Redding  for  about  $13  per  ton. 
Belgian  coke,  with  15  per  cent  ash,  has  been  obtained  for 
$12.20  per  ton. 

From  1895,  when  the  Iron  ^Mountain  mine  was  recognized 
as  a  copper  mine  and  passed  into  the  possession  of  the  ^loun- 
tain  ^Mining  Company,  until  a  few  years  ago,  this  property 
at  the  western  end  of  the  copper  belt,  and  the  Bully  Hill  mine 
at  the  eastern  end,  were  the  two  principal  producers.  Up  to 
January  1,  1902,  the  Iron  ^Mountain  mine  had  produced  825,000 
tons  of  ore,  which  were  carried  on  the  narrow  gauge  railway 
eleven  miles  to  the  company's  smelting  plant  at  Keswick 
for  treatment.  The  resulting  matte  and  blister  copper  were 
shipped  to  the  company's  refinery  in  New  Jersey  and  yielded 
120,000,000  jwunds  of  fine  copper.  The  company  had  paid  in 
dividends  up  to  December  31,  1900.  over  50  per  cent  of  the 
capital  stock  of  $6,250,000.  The  Bully  Hill  mine  is  credited 
with  having  reduced  50,000  tons  of  ore  averaging  10  per  cent 
copper,  aflPording  5,000  tons,  or  11,200.000  pounds  of  copper, 
with  an  equal  value  of  precious  metals,  during  the  first  ten 
months  after  beginning  operations  in  ]\Iay,  1900.  This  is  an 
unofficial  estimate,  but  is  believed  to  be  approximately  correct. 

Groups  of  claims  are  closely  ranged  for  ten  miles  northeast 
of   Iron    ^lountain,    embracing   broken   and   wooded   cam-ons, 


o 
y. 


o 


X 


56 


THE  COPPER  RESOURCES  OP  CALIFORNIA. 


liillsick's  and  elevations,  and  eoverinii'  widtlis  of  three  miles  in 
places.  Several  of  these  properties  have  developed  within 
the  last  three  or  four  years  into  paying  mines,  ecpiallino:  or 
surpassinji'  in  importance  the  Bully  Hill  mine.  These  are: 
the  Balaklala,  which  has  recently  completed  a  lar^e  smelter, 
and  the  ]Mannnoth,  whose  smelter  has  been  runninji'  for  several 
years,  and  has  lately  been  considerably  enlarjred.  The  mines 
of  the  Trinity  Copper  Company,  headed  by  Thomas  W. 
Lawson,  of  Boston,  the  chief  property  of  which,  the  Shasta 


BULLY    HILL,    SHASTA    COUNTY,    SHOWING    ORIGINAL    TUNNEL 

OPENED    IN    1S63. 

Kinjjf,  adjoins  the  Balaklala,  about  four  miles  east  of  Iron 
Mountain,  are  being  prospected.  Of  the  properties  in  the 
eastern  portion  of  the  belt,  the  Afterthouiiht  has  made  the 
greatest  prooress,  liaviiitr  erected  a  smelter  near  the  mine. 
In  the  Donkey  mine  near  by  work  has  been  resumed  and  man\' 
improvements  made.  In  1902  the  number  of  mines  in  the 
Shasta  copper  belt  was  wiven  as  57.  and  the  number  of  feet  of 
tunnels  and  drifts  as  39,000,  approximately,  aside  of  the 
workinjis  of  the  ^Mountain  Copper  mine.  A  computation  of  the 
extent  of  the  underirround  workinas  at  the  present  time  is 
not   possible,  because  the   data   are  not  obtainable,   but   it   is 


SHASTA   COUNTY GEOUKiY   OF   TllK   COPPER   BELT.  0( 

safe  to  say  that  tlu'  minibcr  of  iniiii's  h;is  inoivased  about  50 
per  eeiit.  and  tlie  amount  of  work  lias  at  least  doubled. 

Sliafts  cut  a  notieeably  small  fi'-rure  aloni?  the  copper  belt, 
and  they  may  be  praetically  reLrarded  as  non-existent.  They 
have  nearly  all  i)een  early  prospect  shafts  sunk  in  preliminary 
surface  exploration.  Throutrhout  the  t)elt  development  and 
mining  are  conducted  throujrh  tunnels,  which  the  topography 
so  generally  favors. 

Tilt'  range  of  the  altitudes  credited  to  the  mines  is  wide,  and 
illustrates  the  rugged  nature  of  tiie  country.  The  highest 
projx'rties  are  in  the  elevations  west  of  the  Sacramento  River. 
The  top  of  Iron  Mountain  is  :U)00  feet  above  the  sea  and  2400 
feet  above  the  Sacramento  River.  The  ^Marshall  and  Waters 
group,  two  miles  north  of  Iron  Mountain,  includes  a  point  3500 
feet  in  altitutle.  and  the  Summit  group,  farther  north,  lies  at 
8000  feet.  The  lowest  property  is  the  Ilotchkiss,  750  feet,  a 
little  south  of  Bully  Hill,  which  rises  to  1400  feet.  Forty-four 
properties  are  above  1000  feet,  twenty  above  2000  feet,  and 
fourteen  are  at  altitudes  below  1000  feet.  Redding,  on  the 
Sacramento  River,  is  550  feet  above  the  sea. 

The  development  of  water  powers  and  electrical  plants,  the 
building  of  towns  and  branch  railroads,  the  stimulation  of  gold 
mining,  lumbering,  manufacturing,  and  other  industrial  enter- 
prises, and  increa.se  of  population  and  of  general  i>rosp<'rity 
are  among  the  features  incidental  to  the  progress  of  the  copper 
industry  and  maiuly  consequent  ou  it. 

GEOLOGY  OF  THE  COPPER  BELT. 

It  would  not  be  possible  to  include  in  this  report  a  discussion 
of  the  geological  features  of  the  Qopper  belt  that  would  be  in 
any  degree  complete.  Only  brief  statements  can  here  be  given 
regarding  the  various  classes  of  rocks  more  directly  connected 
with  the  ore  deposits. 

The  oldest  sedimentary  rocks  that  are  encountered  here  are 
tho.se  of  the  Devonian  age.  They  are  found  especially  along 
the  western  districts,  extending  at  intervals  northward  from 
Clear  Creek  to  the  Big  Backbone,  or  beyond.  They  have  been 
found  also  to  the  east  of  the  Sacramento  River,  in  the  vicinity 
of  Baird  and  perhaps  farther  south.     The.se  rocks  are  mainly 


58  THE  COPPER  RESOURCES  OP  CALIFORNIA. 

metamorphie,  often  becoming  schistose  or  crystalline.  They 
include  the  limestones  and  their  underlying  slates,  or  schists, 
near  Kennet  and  Copley,  and  at  the  lime  quarry  on  Clear  Creek 
in  the  vicinity  of  Horsetown.  Probably  the  schists  entangled 
with  the  eruptives  throughout  the  western  districts  are  of 
Devonian  age. 

The  next  succeeding  period  represented  among  the  sedi- 
mentary rocks  is  that  of  the  Carboniferous.  This  period  is 
represented  by  the  conspicuous  limestone  belt  east  of  the 
McCloud  River,  near  Baird,  and  extending  in  a  soutlierly 
direction  toward  the  Great  Valley  to  the  south  of  Pitt  River. 
Bass's  ranch,  on  the  old  Oregon  road,  is  a  classical  locality  for 
Carboniferous  fossils  in  California.  The  Carboniferous  beds, 
like  the  Devonian,  include  both  limestones  and  slates,  both  of 
which  are  in  a  large  degree  metamorphie.  The  thick  lime- 
stones are  underlain  by  dark  slates,  and  both  are  very  fossil- 
iferous.  These  beds  will  l)e  referred  to  again  in  connection 
with  certain  metalliferous  deposits  in  the  vicinity  of  Pitt 
River. 

Succeeding  the  Carboniferous  period,  the  next  oldest  sedi- 
mentary rocks  in  this  region  are  those  of  the  Triassic  age. 
These  occur  still  farther  east  in  the  vicinity  of  S(|uaw  Creek 
and  Bear  Mountain.  The>'  consist  for  the  most  part  of  dark, 
thin-bedded,  silicious  slates,  overlain  in  some  places  by  lime- 
stone, which  is  usually  very  fossiliferous.  The  Triassic  strata 
are  much  less  affected  by  metamorphism  than  either  the  Car- 
boniferous or  Devonian  rocks.  The  limestone  is  higlily  crystal- 
line, but  the  slates  are  rarely  if  ever  scliisted.  though  they  are 
much  disturbed  in  their  position,  being  usually  more  or  less 
tilted. 

The  lower  portion  of  the  Triassic  beds  contains  thick  beds  of 
fragmental  volcanic  rock  of  an  andesitic  character,  resembling 
beds  of  volcanic  tuff  of  a  much  younger  age.  These  are  espe- 
cially noticeable  near  the  bridge  on  Pitt  River  east  of  Copper 
City.  It  is  curious  to  note  the  general  resemblance  of  the 
sediments  in  these  three  distinct  periods.  In  each  case  the 
lower  beds  are  of  a  slaty  nature,  whik^  llie  upper  are  of  lime- 
stone. The  limestones  to  the  north  and  east  of  Bully  Hill 
belong  to  the  Triassic  period,  and  have  furnished  not  only  an 
abundance  of  marine  shells,  but  aLso  the  bones  of  extinct 
saurians. 


SHASTA   COUNTY GEOLOGY  OF  THE  COPl'ER  BELT.  59 

The  last  important  sodimontary  beds  that  require  mention 
are  those  of  the  Cretaceous  period.  These  beds  are  confined  to 
the  lower  foothills  of  the  copper  belt,  and  to  the  valley  floor. 
They  occur  near  Ilorsetown.  Reddin?.  Sand  Flat,  Dry  Creek, 
and  Cow  Creek,  forming  an  irregular  belt  or  zone  extending  in 
a  nortliea.sterly  direction  toward  the  low  country  north  of 
Lassen  Peak.  They  are  of  Upper  Cretaceous  age,  and  are 
generally  fossiliferous.  The  beds  are  of  shale  and  sandstone, 
which  have  a  relatively  slight  dip  to  the  south  or  east.  It  is 
this  series  which  has  been  i)rospected  for  petroleum. 

The  Cretaceous  beds,  and  in  fact  some  of  the  older  l)eds  of 
the  foothills,  are  overlain  by  beds  of  volcanic  tuflp  which  were 
once  more  extensive  in  tlieir  distriliutiou  than  now,  and  also 
by  accunndations  of  alluvial  gravels.  It  is  impossible  in  the 
limited  space  of  this  report  to  give  more  than  a  mere  outline  of 
these  deposits,  but  it  is  important  that  at  least  a  few  para- 
graphs be  selected  from  the  geological  history  of  the  region  in 
order  that  there  may  be  a  better  comprehension  of  the  para- 
graplis  which  follow. 

THE   IGNEOUS   ROCKS. 

]More  vitally  connected  with  the  ore  deposits  of  the  copper 
belt  are  the  igneous  rocks  embraced  in  its  area.  Those  which 
are  directly  concerned  are  either  of  one  class,  or  they  belong 
to  ela.sses  closely  related,  and  are  probably  of  about  the  same 
age.  The  geological  age  to  which  they  seem  referal)le  can  not 
be  younger  than  the  CretaceoiLS  nor  older  than  the  Triassic. 
Their  approach  toward  the  surface  of  the  earth  as  intrusions 
covering  an  extensive  territory  was  no  doubt  very  gradual, 
though  in  its  late  stages  it  was  doubtless  accompanied  by  erup- 
tions of  lavas  and  the  formations  of  dikes  that  were  of  more 
sudden  creation.  ^Nlost  of  these  rocks  are  of  an  acid  character, 
or  in  other  words,  high  in  their  percentage  of  silica.  It  would 
be  interesting  to  note  the  relation  of  these  igneous  rocks  to  the 
topographic  features  of  the  country,  to  the  older  sedimentary 
rocks,  and  to  the  ore  deposits  themselves,  but  this  would  carry 
the  discussion  beyond  the  limits  of  the  present  paper.  A  little 
may  be  said,  however,  regarding  the  structural  features  of  the 
countrv  and  the  classification  of  these  rocks. 


60  TflE  COPPER  RESOURCES  OF  CALIFORNIA. 

In  the  main,  eruptive  or  igneous  rocks  liave  the  appearance 
of  underlying  all  of  the  sedimentary  rocks,  including  those  of 
Devonian  as  well  as  those  of  Cretaceous  age.  In  all  the  larger 
streams,  and  in  many  of  the  smaller  ones,  erosion  has  cut  down 
through  the  overlying  sedimentary  rocks  and  exposed  the  erup- 
tives  along  the  valley  bottoms.  As  extensive  intrusions  which 
have  risen  into  the  old  sedimentary  rocks,  there  are  many 
variations,  and  no  less  variety  also  in  the  flows  of  volcanic 
rocks  that  finally  resulted.  The  deep-seated  phases  of 
these  eruptions  include  granite,  granite  porphyry  (quartz 
porphyry),  and  diorite,' including  quartz  diorite.  These  rocks 
are  either  coarsely  or  finely  crystalline,  and  of  a  light  gray 
color,  greenish  or  dark,  varying  with  locality. 

Rhyolite,  trachyte,  and  andesite  are  names  properly  given  to 
surface  flows  of  volcanic  rocks,  and  such  flows  occur  through- 
out the  copper  districts,  associated  with  tuft's  and  breccias  of  a 
similar  age  and  character.  These  flows  doubtless  corresi)ond 
in  character  to  the  deep-seated  rocks  already  mentioned,  and 
represent  the  outpourings  that  followed  their  action.  These 
volcanic  rocks,  including  both  the  flows  and  the  fragmental 
rocks,  are  especially  seen  near  Iron  ^Mountain,  the  Shasta  King 
mine,  l^ully  Hill,  and  the  Afterthought.  The  term  porphyry 
should  perhaps  be  applied  only  to  dike  rocks,  and  some  of 
these  are  found  along  the  copper  belt.  There  are  certain  dikes, 
however,  which  cut  the  limestones  in  the  vicinity  of  Baird, 
which  should  be  classed  as  diabases.  These  accompany  the 
iron  ores  and  the  occurrences  of  magnetic  pyrite. 

METAMORPIIIC  ROCKS. 

A  third  and  important  class  of  rocks  that  are  frequent  in 
the  copper  belt  includes  most  of  the  crystalline  limestone,  and 
certain  "slates"  and  schists  near  Copley,  Redding,  and  Clear 
Creek.  These  rocks  are  largely  of  Devonian  age.  and  appear 
to  be  partly  of  an  igneous  origin.  Truly  metamorphosed  .sedi- 
mentary rocks  are  very  often  involved  in  the  eruptive  and 
volcanic  rocks  along  the  copper  belt,  and  are  not  always  easily 
distinguished  from  them,  where  the  metamorphic  action  has 
])eo]i  intense  and  the  weathering  consideraljle. 

In  the  main  structural  features,  therefore,  the  copper  belt 
consists  of  a  number  of  north  and  south  folds,  or  belts,  of  sedi- 


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SHASTA   COUNTY GEOLOGY  OF  THE  COPPER  BELT.  61 

iiu'Mtary  rocks,  wliidi  l>t'K)ii<;  to  a  suct't'ssion  of  pcriotls.  and 
Ix'ticatli  wliifh  I'xtcnd  the  rock.s  of  the  jrreat  ^'ranitic  intrusion. 
Dike  rocks  have  l)een  found  peuetratinfr  both  the  eruptives  and 
tlic  overlyin*;  .sedimentary  rocks.  A  clear  knowledf^e  of  these 
structural  features  in  a  measure  simplifies  many  thinj,'s  relat- 
ing to  the  ore  deposits. 

ORE    DEPOSITS. 

The  deposits  of  copper  ore  belonsjinir  to  the  copper  l)elt.  that 
are  now  attractinjr  so  nnich  attention  in  this  country,  are  (|uite 
unlike  the  usual  (piartz  veins  as  ordinarily  understood,  both 
as  to  their  forms  as  ore  bodies  and  as  to  their  ori<rin.  though 
probably  they  are  not  different  from  bodies  of  copper  ore 
occurring  elsewhere.  There  is  considerable  misconception  in 
this  regard.  x\s  a  I'liic  these  ore  bodies  arc  of  vci-y  great  size 
and  consist  of  large  bodies  of  massive  sulphides  occurring 
along  the  borders  of  or  within  areas  of  eruptive  rocks.  It  is 
rarely  that  any  consideral)le  ])odies  of  ore  have  been  found  in 
this  belt  inclosed  in  inialtered  sedimentary  rocks,  or  in  fact  in 
metamorjihic  rocks  other  than  schists.  They  are  not  com- 
monly se])arated  from  their  inclosing  rocks  by  sharply  defined 
boundaries,  but  fade  out  by  gradual  transitions  from  ore  in 
which  there  is  more  or  less  waste  to  rock  in  which  there  is 
more  or  less  ore,  and  finally  into  rock  with  only  a  small  per- 
centage of  disseminated  sulphides.  They  are  not  often 
bounded  along  the  sides  by  definite  walls,  though  sometimes 
one  wall  is  in  evidence,  emphasized  as  to  its  extent  and 
importance  by  a  selvage  of  clay  and  other  similar  material 
which  testifies  to  a  certain  amount  of  either  lateral  or  vertical 
movement.  It  does  not  always  appear,  however,  that  such 
walls  have  had  any  connection  with  the  genesis  of  tlic  ore. 
The  ore  bodies  are  not  conformable  in  their  extent  to  the 
directions  of  these  walls,  and  it  may  be  that  the  walls  are  only 
planes  of  shearing  developed  secondarily. 

There  are  three  types  of  ore  deposits  within  the  copper  belt 
that  re(|uire  notice  in  this  report,  differing  not  onlx-  in  their 
mineralogy  and  form,  but  also  in  their  mode  of  origin,  to  a  cer- 
tain extent.  These  are:  (1)  Deposits  of  magnetic  iron  (mag- 
netite), with  pyrrhotite  and  pyrite;  (2)  Massive  deposits  of 
pyrite,  chalcopyrite,  and  other  sulphides;  (3)  Vein-like  deposits 


.  V    < 


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SHASTA  COl'NTY GEOLOGY  OP  THE  COPPER  BELT.  61 

iiKMitarv  rocks,  whicli  bcloiitr  to  a  siiec-e.s.sion  of  periods,  and 
hciu'atli  wliicli  t'xtt'iid  tile  roeks  of  the  jjrreat  «rranitic  intrusion. 
Dike  roeks  have  been  found  peuetratinjj;  both  the  eruptives  and 
the  overlyinj;  sedimentary  roeks.  A  clear  knowledge  of  these 
structural  features  in  a  measure  simplifies  many  things  relat- 
ing to  the  ore  deposits. 

ORE    DEPOSITS. 

The  deposits  of  copper  ore  belonging  to  the  copper  belt,  tiiat 
are  now  attracting  so  much  attention  in  this  country,  are  quite 
unlike  the  usual  (puirtz  veins  as  ordinarily  understood,  l)otli 
as  to  their  forms  as  ore  bodies  and  as  to  their  origin,  though 
probably  they  are  not  different  from  bodies  of  copper  ore 
occurring  elsewhere.  There  is  considerable  misconception  in 
this  regard.  As  a  rule  these  ore  bodies  are  of  very  great  size 
and  consist  of  large  bodies  of  massive  sulphides  occurring 
along  the  borders  of  or  within  areas  of  eruptive  rocks.  It  is 
rarely  that  any  considerable  bodies  of  ore  have  been  found  in 
this  belt  inclosed  in  unaltered  sedimentary  rocks,  or  in  fact  in 
metamorphic  rocks  other  than  schists.  They  are  not  com- 
monly separated  from  their  inclosing  rocks  l)y  sharply  defined 
bountlaries,  but  fade  out  by  gradual  transitions  from  ore  in 
which  there  is  more  or  less  waste  to  rock  in  which  thei-e  is 
more  or  less  ore,  and  finally  into  rock  with  only  a  small  per- 
centage of  disseminated  sulphides.  They  are  not  often 
l)ounded  along  the  sides  by  definite  walls,  thougli  sometimes 
one  wall  is  in  evidence,  emphasized  as  to  its  extent  and 
importance  by  a  selvage  of  clay  and  other  similar  nuiterial 
which  testifies  to  a  certain  amount  of  either  lateral  or  vertical 
mov(^ment.  It  does  not  always  appear,  however,  that  such 
walls  have  had  any  connection  with  the  genesis  of  the  ore. 
The  ore  liodies  are  not  conformable  in  their  extent  to  the 
directions  of  these  walls,  and  it  may  be  that  the  walls  are  only 
planes  of  shearing  developed  secondarily. 

There  are  three  types  of  ore  deposits  within  the  copper  belt 
that  require  notice  in  this  report,  differing  not  only  in  their 
mineralogy  and  form.  l)ut  also  in  their  mode  of  origin,  to  a  cer- 
tain extent.  These  are:  (1)  Deposits  of  magnetic  iron  (mag- 
netite), witli  pyrrhotite  and  pyrite;  (2)  ^lassive  deposits  of 
pyrite,  chalcopyrite,  and  other  sulphides;  (3)  Vein-like  deposits 


62  THE  COPPER  RESOURCES  OF  CALIFORNIA. 

of  mixed  sulphides,  includino;  a  relatively  larjjre  percentage  of 
iiold,  silver,  zinc,  antimony,  etc. 

The  first  class  of  deposits  occurs  most  abundantly  to  the 
north  of  Pitt  River  near  the  mouth  of  the  McCloud.  One  and 
a  half  miles  southeast  of  Baird  very  large  deposits  of  mag- 
netic iron  occur,  cai-rying  a  small  percentage  of  iron  sulpliide, 
with  some  value  in  gold.  Associated  Avith  them  are  smaller 
veins  of  copper  ore.  The  largest  deposit  of  magnetic  iron  ore 
at  the  head  of  Potter  Creek  can  be  easily  traced  for  more  than 
liair  a  mile,  and  undoubtedly  has  a  width  in  some  places  of 
more  than  100  feet.  Considerable  bodies  of  this  ore  are  strongly 
polarized.  It  is  associated  with  bodies  of  actinolite  and  other 
iron-bearing  silicates  representing  intense  local  metamorphism. 
The  iron  ores  are  for  the  most  part  connected  directly  with  the 
diorite  neai'  its  contact  with  the  massive  carboniferous  lime- 
stones, though  in  some  cases  the  ore  is  found  in  narrow  dikes 
inclosed  in  the  limestone  itself.  These  ore  bodies  are  evidently 
of  eruptive  origin,  and  probably  represent  extremely  basic 
segregations  from  the  eruptive  mass. 

The  deposits  of  the  second  class  are  those  of  mixed  pyrite, 
chalcopyrite,  and  other  sulphides,  which  form  the  principal 
deposits  of  copper  ore  lying  west  of  the  Sacramento  River. 
This  class  includes  the  ore  bodies  of  Iron  Mountain,  S(|uaw 
Creek,  Backbone  Creek,  etc.  They  are  inclosed  either  ])artially 
or  Avholly  in  tlie  metamorphic  schists  of  the  western  districts, 
and  are  usually  closely  connected  with  the  acid  eruptives 
involved  with  them.  These  deposits  appear  to  have  been  one 
of  the  results  of  metasomatic  action  attending  the  intrusion  oi- 
extrusion  of  the  acid  eruptive  rocks.  Some  of  the  deposits  are 
found  closely  connected  with  rhyolitic  flows. 

The  ore  deposits  of  the  third  class  are  represented  by  those 
of  Copper  City,  the  Bully  Hill.  Afterthought,  and  other  mines. 
In  form  they  have  some  resemblances  to  irregular  veins  with 
a  succession  of  ore  shoots  arranged  along  certain  lines. 
Although  in  the  manner  of  their  origin  and  occurrence  they 
are  not  thought  to  be  different  from  the  preceding,  yet  they  are 
much  more  limited  in  extent,  and  are  characterized  by  the 
presence  of  larger  percentages  of  gold,  silver,  zinc,  and  anti- 
mony, and  sometimes  copper,  together  with  barites  as  a  gangue 
mineral.  They  have  also  a  correspondingly  low  percentage 
of  iron. 


64  THE  COPPER  RESOURCES  OP  CALIFORNIA. 

The  alteration  of  these  ores,  especially  those  of  the  latter 
classes,  is  of  special  interest.  Where  snrface  erosion  has 
exposed  or  truncated  the  ore  bodies,  there  has  nsually  been  a 
lai'jjfe  amount  of  oxidation  and  destruction  of  the  sulphides. 
The  oxidation  and  the  formation  of  solul)le  sulphates  have 
resulted  in  a  leachiufr  of  certain  metallic  contents,  which  have 
l)een  carried  cilliri-  dowinvard  or  outward  accordin<r  to  the 
direction  of  the  drainaj^e.  Residual  accumulations  of  metallic 
oxides  is  the  rule,  often  forminj;  thick  crusts  of  masses  of 
"grossan,"  or  else  only  staininj;  the  rocks  upon  which  it  is 
deposited.  The  chief  metallic  element  of  the  gossan  is  of 
course  iron,  thoutih  it  very  often  contains  a  small  percentage 
of  copper,  and  it  has  often  formed  an  ore  of  gold  and  silver, 
as  in  the  Iron  ^Mountain,  Bully  Hill,  and  Afterthought  mines. 

The  term  "gossan"  appears  to  be  only  vaguely  understood, 
and  it  has  generally  been  ai)plied  in  northern  California  with- 
out discrimination  between  the  thicker  crusts  of  limouite  and 
the  more  or  less  decayed  rocks  which  are  only  stained  with 
the  same  material.  At  Inm  [Mountain  the  iron  oxide  which 
has  resulted  from  the  decay  and  leaching  of  the  ores  has  formed 
in  some  cases  crusts  of  limonite  many  feet  in  thickness.  These 
crusts  have  a  bedded  structure  characteristic  of  materials 
deposited  by  water.  There  is  comparatively  little  rock  or 
earthy  matter  in  some  of  these  deposits,  and  it  is  evident  that 
they  are  accumulations  of  iron  oxide  carried  l)y  means  of  water 
from  ore  bodies  of  considerable  extent.  Furthermore,  it  is 
evident  that  iron  is  one  of  the  chief  elements  of  the  ore. 

At  Hully  Hill  the  surface  indications  are  very  different, 
althougli  the  term  gossan  is  likewise  applied.  Instead  of  thick 
crusts  of  limonite  the  surface  is  largely  covered  by  broken  and 
stained  masses  of  rock,  often  light  colored,  but  containing 
generally  some  metallic  oxides,  jx-rliaps  including  antimony  or 
zinc.  The  rock  is  extensively  decomposed  and  earthy,  forming 
what  is  often  termed  "soft  porphyry."  Such  eroppings  do 
not  indicate  an  ore  that  is  very  high  in  its  percentage  of  iron. 
The  quantity  of  gossan  found  on  the  surface  is  generally 
taken  as  an  index  of  the  (punitity  of  sulphide  that  has  been 
affected  by  weathering,  and  accordingly  of  the  quantity  of 
sulphide  that  may  be  expected  to  be  found  by  development. 

As  an  index  to  the  location   of  ore  deposits,  the  material 


hi 

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U 

a. 

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I- 
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a. 
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SHASTA    col   NTV — GEOLOGY   OK   THE  COPPER  BELT.  65 

termed  ''{jossan"  is  of  jrreat  importance  to  the  prospector,  and 
a  word  may  Ix'  added  as  to  the  forms  iti  which  it  commoidy 
occurs. 

(1)  Tliere  are  residual  masses  of  iron  oxide  in  place,  which 
have  not  been  i-ciiiovt'd  from  tlie  jiosjtioii  of  th(>  discomposed 
suli)hidt'. 

(2)  Iron  oxide  is  carried  In  circuhiting  waters  toward  the 
surface  or  elsewhere,  and  deposited  as  crusts  or  beds  of 
limouite. 

(3)  Iron  oxide  may  merely  stain  the  more  or  less  altered 
country  rock,  becominir  very  deceptive  as  to  the  quantity  and 
quality  of  the  sulphides  from  which  it  has  been  derived.  The 
sulphates  that  result  from  oxidation  of  iron  sulphides  react 
stronjrly  on  the  country  rock,  reduciufr  it  to  the  form  of  white 
clay  and  fine  "svhite  silica,  but  the  oxide  of  iron  may  also  stain 
tliis  material  to  a  brownish  or  dark  color. 

(4)  Much  of  the  so-called  "gossan"  of  Bully  Hill  is  only 
decomposed  rock,  consisting  of  silica  and  clay  which  is  often 
only  slightly  stained  with  iron  oxide. 

Secondary  enrichment  in  these  ore  deposits  is  very  frequent. 
The  leaching  of  the  surface  ores  results  in  the  formation  of 
soluble  sulphates  and  perhaps  other  compounds  of  the  metals 
whicii  are  carried  downward  into  the  lower  portions  of  the  ore 
body,  where  richer  sulphides  are  again  precipitated.  This 
ap|)ears  to  have  been  the  origin  of  much  of  the  chalcocite  and 
of  the  chalcopyrite  and  other  richer  ores  whicli  are  found  below 
the  zones  of  complete  and  partial  oxidation.  Such  richer  ores 
commonl.x  liave  a  banded  structure  showing  clearly  their  sec- 
ondary deposition,  which  the  unaltered  sulphides  do  not  appear 
to  have.  The  depth  to  which  this  secondary  enrichment  has 
extended  varies  with  the  conditions,  no  doubt.  Below  the  zone 
of  secondary  enrichment  the  ores  are  usually  of  lower  grade, 
consisting  largely  of  the  unaltered  sulphides,  which  in  them- 
selves often  become  more  sparingly  distributed.  Tlie  banding 
of  the  ores,  that  is,  the  alternating  darker  and  lighter  bands 
that  are  often  found  in  them,  is  probably  the  result  of  secondary 
action  within  the  ore  body,  subsequent  to  the  formation  of  the 
ore  body  itself. 

The  much  talked  of  ore  deposits  of  Iron  ^Mountain  deserve 
to  be  particularly  noticed  in  several  of  their  aspects.  The 
5— BuL.  50 


66 


THE  COITER  KESOIRCES  OF  CALIFORNIA. 


prineij);!!  one  of  these  lies  on  the  southern  slope  of  the  ritlire  to 
the  north  of  Slick  Kock  Ciinxon.  where  its  position  and  extent 
are  superticiall\'  indicated  1)\  an  impressive  outcrop  of  jiossan. 
This  tiossan  consists  of  various  materials,  the  most  noticeable 


7, 


O 
/. 


y. 


■J. 


one  naturally  hein^^  the  iron  oxides.  The  oxides  of  iron  occur 
as  thick  beds  or  crusts  of  limonite,  or  as  infiltrations  or  stains 
minjrled  with  more  or  less  rock  and  earthy  matter.  The  limo- 
nite accumulations  have  at  some  points  a  thickness  of  more 
than  30  feet. 


SHASTA   COUNTY — GEOLOGY  OF  THE  COPPER  BELT. 


67 


As  an  ore  body  this  deposit  of  sulphide  is  roughly  lenticular 
in  form,  standing'  in  a  steeply  inclined  position,  the  upper 
border  of  which  has  been  truncated  by  the  slope  of  tlie  hill 


under  atmospheric  erosion.  The  loufje.st  dimension  of  the  ore 
l)ody  conforms  to  the  strike  of  the  rocks  in  which  it  is  inclosed, 
and  approximates  a  len?:th  of  about  600  feet.  Its  course  is 
northeasterly.     Its  vertical  depth  is  something  over  300  feet, 


68  THE  COPPER  HESOrKCES  OF  PAEIKOHXIA. 

and  its  gfreatest  thiekne&s  about  250  feet.  Il  li.is  been  deseriboil 
as  being  "egg-shaped,"  with  its  smaller  end  dow  iiwni-d,  but 
this  is  true  only  in  ci-oss-section.  There  is  comparatively  little 
waste  rock  contaiiic(l  wilhin  its  bimndiirics.  ;md  foi'  the  most 
part  it  could  be  described  as  homogeneous  sulphide.  There- 
fore, its  total  tonnage  of  sulphide  has  probal)ly  exceeded  that 
which  has  comnumly  been  reported,  yet  not  all  of  this  is  to  1)0 
regarded  as  ore.  In  the  several  levels  in  which  this  ore  body 
has  been  explored  the  sulphide  is  not  of  uniform  grade.  In 
an  intermediate  zone  or  level,  generally  spoken  of  as  the 
"copper  level,"  the  ore -consists  of  mixed  pyrite  and  chaleo- 
pyrite,  and  has  an  average  grade  probably  not  below  7  per 
cent  of  copper;  indeed,  some  portions  of  it  carry  a  value  above 
12  per  cent  or  even  15  per  cent  in  copper.  Above  this  zone 
is  that  of  partial  or  complete  oxidation,  from  which  the  copper 
contents  liave  been  largely  removed  by  leaching,  l^elow  the 
"copper  level"  the  ore  is  likewise  of  lower  grade  in  copper, 
but  in  this  case  from  a  diiferent  cause.  The  "copper  level" 
is  a  zone  of  secondary  cnrichniciit.  hclow  which  such  action 
has  not  ]H'i'n  effected.  The  ore  carries  considera])le  value  in 
gold  and  silver,  its  gold  values  ranging  above  $5  per  ton  for 
large  nuisses  of  ore.  Prol)al)ly  noiu'  of  the  sulphide  is  without 
its  gold  content,  cxcu  when  it  contains  only  a  trace  of  copper. 

The  mineralog.N'  of  the  oi-c  deposits  is  a  tojiic  for  fruitful 
investigation.  The  deposits  of  the  eastern  ;ind  tlie  western 
districts  differ  to  some  extent  in  their  mineralogy  as  well  as 
in  the  richness  of  their  ores.  ]\Iost  of  the  ores  of  the  western 
district  are  of  lower  grade  than  those  worked  at  the  Bully 
Hill  mines,  though  at  the  same  time  they  are  of  miich  hirger 
dimensions.  Large  bodies  of  ore  characterize  tlie  western 
district,  while  high-grade  ores  are  more  frequent  in  the  eastern. 

The  ores  of  the  Bully  ITill  mines  are  usually  of  a  dark  lead- 
gray  color,  ill  whicli  the  dark  sulphides  of  co])]ier  and  zinc 
often  form  the  predominating  elements.  The  siime  is  true  of 
the  ores  found  in  the  workings  near  Copper  City  and  in  the 
mines  of  the  Afterthought  group.  The  ores  contain  zinc 
blende,  chalcocite.  hornite.  (•hal('oi)\rite.  te1i'iih«>drite.  melaco- 
nite,  and  carbonates  of  copper,  with  some  luitixe  copper, 
silver,  and  gold.  The  gangue  minerals  are  barite,  calcite. 
quartz,  and  residual  clay  silica  and  iron  oxide. 


SHASTA  COUNTY — GEOLOGY  OF  THE  COI'PEK  BELT.  69 

In  tlie  western  district,  the  ores  of  the  Bahiklala,  Shasta 
King.  ^lanunoth,  Smnmit,  and  (Jolinsky  groups,  and  also  of 
some  others,  are  an  intimate  mixtnre  of  pyrite  and  chaleo- 
l)vrite,  with  oecasionallv  a  little  zine  ])lende  and  some  carbo- 
nates.  In  the  ores  of  Iron  .Mountain  there  are  some  of  greater 
value,  including  bornite  and  chalcocite.  The  gangue  includes 
silicious  materials,  commonly  known  as  quartzite.  both  east 
and  west:  but  as  the  ores  are  not  always  connected  with  sedi- 
mentary bt'tls.  the  silicious  material  is  perhaps  largely  of  a 
seeondai-y  nature. 

The  Iron  Mountain  ores  comprise  the  oxides  at  and  near  the 
surface  and  the  deeper-lying  sulphides.  The  oxides  carry  but 
a  very  small  percentage  of  copi)er,  their  main  vjiiues  being  in 
gold  and  silver,  foi-  which  these  ores  were  at  one  time  worked. 
They  consist  principally  of  ferric  oxide,  accompanied  by  a 
little  silica  and  alumina.  Analyses  of  trial  lots  have  afforded 
iho  following: 

Snliiliiir    1.",.41  2.40 

I  mil    in    FoS, 11. 40  12. (lit 

Ferric  o.xido    48.22  70.88 

Zinc    0.24  0.21 

Silica    11.4.".  S.r>7 

Alumina    0.00  3.39 

Water    14.00  13.43 

The  sulphides,  which  carry  as  nuicli  as  10  [)cr  cent  of  copper 
in  some  parts  of  the  mine,  are  much  poorer  in  gold  and  silver. 
One  lot  of  sulphide  ore,  consisting  of  754  tons,  smelted  in 
1896,  a.ssayed  partly  as  follows: 

Sulphur     45.00 

I  ron     30.07 

Zinc    3.41 

Silica    n.OO 

Alumina    1.57 

The  total  of  these  tigures  being  only  93.21  per  cent,  it  may 
be  inferred  that  the  remaining  0.79  i)er  cent  consists  mainly  of 
copper  and  the  precious  metals. 

Regarding  the  composition  of  the  ores  of  the  Bully  Ilill 
mines  less  is  known,  but  it  is  clear  that  their  content  of  iron 
is  comparatively  low.  rendering  a  ferruginoiLS  flux  necessary, 
and  there  is  a  corresponding  increase  in  the  percentage  of 


70  THE  COPPER  RESOURCES  OF  CALIFORNIA. 

zinc,  with  barytes  as  a  fjangue  mineral.    Antimony  and  arsenic 
are  also  present,  thoufrh  to  what  extent  is  not  known. 

The  ores  of  the  Peck,  Afterthoii<rht,  and  Donkey  mines  in 
the  Cow  Creek  district,  which  in  many  respects  resemble  those 
of  the  Pitts])ni-ti'  district,  are  d('St*ril)ed  as  beiny  "very 
refractory." 

MOUNTAIN  COPPER  MINE. 

The  ]\Ionntain  Copper  mine,  the  pioneer  copper  mine  of 
the  Shasta  County  copper  belt,  is  the  old  Iron  ^Mountain 
mine,  in  the  familiar  mo'untain  of  that  name,  located  between 
Slick  Rock  and  Boulder  creeks,  a  few  miles  west  of  the 
Sacramento  River,  in  section  84,  tt)wiisliip  83  north,  range 
6  west.  The  property  included  in  the  mine  proper  embraces 
a  number  of  patented  mining  claims  on  the  top  and  sides  of 
the  mountain  and  in  the  creek  canyons.  The  mountain  is 
here  about  7000  feet  wide,  l)etween  the  creeks  named.  The 
summit  of  the  ridge  has  an  altitude  of  3000  feet,  and  Slick 
Rock  Creek  is  700  feet  lower.  On  the  apex  of  the  mountain 
stands  a  bold  outcrop  of  gossan.  300  feet  wide,  and  wide 
branches  of  these  croppings  of  iron  oxides  occur  in  irregular 
belts  extending  laterally  toward  Roulder  Creek. 

These  gossan  ores,  from  which  the  copper  has  been  leached 
out,  carry  the  silver  and  gold  values  which  prompted  and 
sustained  the  long  and  costly  efforts  at  precious-metal  mining, 
of  which  an  account  is  given  in  the  historical  chajiter  of  this 
Bulletin.  The  (piite  extensive  development  of  the  mine  in 
former  years  had  silver  mainly  in  view,  and  the  tunnels  then 
run  had  not  (juite  reached  the  copper  sidphides,  which 
remained  to  be  discovered  by  later  explorations.  It  was  as  a 
silver  mine  that  the  property  was  long  on  the  market  until 
taken  hold  of  in  1895  by  a  syndicate  of  London  people,  who 
incorporated  the  ^Mountain  Klines  Syndicate.  Ltd.  This  com- 
pany extended  one  of  the  prospect  tunnels,  encountered  and 
developed  a  great  body  of  sulphide  copper  ore,  and  proceeded 
to  operate  the  property  as  a  copper  mine.  Capital  was  lib- 
erally invested  in  mining  facilities,  a  smelting  plant,  and  a 
refinery  in  New  Jersey,  and  the  property  was.  in  Iftss  than 
two  years,  in  jirofitable  and  successful  operation.  This  dis- 
covery   and    the   success   that    early    followed   the   large-scale 


SHASTA    COrNTV  —  MOINTAIX    COPI'FJi    MINK.  71 

operations,  first  called  wide  attention  to  the  eopper  resojirces 
of  the  crreat  mineral  belt  to  which  the  mine  belon«:s.  and  were 
the  start  of  copper  mininu'  in  Shasta  Conn1\'.  .lanuary  1. 
1897,  the  entire  property  of  the  ]\Ionntain  Klines  Syndicate 
was  transferred,  for  $5,750,000,  to  the  present  Mountain 
Copper  Company,  of  London,  composed  of  practically  the  same 
individual  intt'i'csts.  and  with  a  capital  stock  of  tl.^aO.OOO,  or 
al)out  $(^,250,000. 

The  ore  deposits  of  Inm  .Mountain,  specifically  described  in 
the  section  on  "The  (ieolojjy  of  the  Copper  Belt,"  consist  of 
immense  lenticular  masses  of  sulphides,  mainly  underlying;  the 
jrossan.  but  in  i)laces  in  and  under  riiyolite.  with  in)  surface 
indications  above.  The  principal  ore  mjiss  developed  lies  in 
the  southern  side  of  the  mountain  above  Slick  Rock  Creek, 
and  from  it  the  larjrer  portion  of  the  ore  mined  has  come. 
This  ore  body  was  found  to  ])e  approximately  800  feet  lonjx, 
100  to  400  feet  wide,  and  ()00  feet  deej)  at  its  "greatest  depth 
below  outcrop,  and  was  estimated  to  contain  about  1,700.000 
tons  of  ore  of  all  <rrades.  At  the  date  of  the  transfer  to  the 
Mountain  Copi)er  Company  the  ore  reserves  in  si<rht  were 
estimated  at  1.333,188  tons,  and  other  ore  bodies  have  since 
been  developed.  The  ores  are  massive  iron  pyrites  carrying 
an  average  percentage  of  copper.  The  ores  carry  a  large 
percentage  of  sulphur,  a  small  amount  of  silica,  and  are 
exceptionally  free  from  arsenic,  bisnnith,  and  other  elements 
detracting  from  the  electrical  conductivity  of  the  copper. 

The  mine  is  opened  by  thousaiuls  of  feet  of  tunnels  driven 
from  points  high  up  the  sides  of  the  hill,  and  the  ore  has  l)een 
stoped  from  a  large  portion  of  the  ore  body  on  the  south  side. 

The  numerous  buiklings  at  the  mine  used  foi-  all  i)urposes 
are  gnmped  in  Slick  Rock  Canyon  below^  the  mine.  The  mining 
plant  includes  air-compressors  for  operating  power  drills,  and 
an  electric  railway  for  transporting  tlie  ore  from  the  mine  to 
the  bunkers  at  the  mine  terminus  of  the  steam  railroad  run- 
ning to  the  smelting  plant.  The  latter  road  is  a  narrow-gauge 
line  equipped  with  locomotives,  necessary  cars,  and  a  complete 
repair  shop.  It  is  eleven  miles  long,  and  extremely  tortuous 
in  its  course,  and  descends  a  grade  of  nearly  2000  feet  between 
the  mine  and  smelter.  At  the  latter  place  the  ore-cars  dump 
from  a  trestle  20  feet  above  the  level  of  the  vard.     At  the 


72 


THE  COPi'EK  KESOUKCES  OF  CALIFORNIA. 


mine  the  cars  arc  loaded  in  a  tunnel,  into  which  chutes  lead 
from  ore-lmnkers  on  the  hillside. 

Owing  to  the  toi)o,u:rai)hy  of  the  country  no  location  suitalde 
for  a  snieltin<i'  ]>lant  could  l)e  found  nearer  to  the  mine  than  a 
point  several  miles  down  Slick  Rock  Creek,  and  a  little  over  a 
mile  west  of  the  Sacramento  River.  Here  the  company  at  the 
start  esta])lished  the  reduction  i)lant.  The  private  railroad 
extends  to  the  Southern  Pacific  line  at  the  riv(>r.  The  early 
smell  iiiu  r.'ifilities  included  five  water-jacket  blast  fui'iiaces, 
one  brick  liot-nir  stove  to  supply  li(i1-;iii'  bbists.  one  Ropp  roast- 


McDOUGALL  ROASTING  FURNACE.   KESWICK  SMELTER,  MOUNTAIN 
COPPER  COMPAXV.   SHASTA  COUNTY. 

iiii;'  furnace,  eleven  Wri'jht  circular  calcinin.L;'  furnaces,  three 
l)i'i(|iiet1in,i>-  nuichines,  a  three-stand  converter  plant,  a  sampling 
plant,  and  other  necessary  adjuncts.  An  extensive  foundry 
ami  machine  shop  were  amonu'  the  other  features.  The  ca])acity 
of  the  plant  was  1000  tons  of  ore  i)er  day. 

When  reduction  was  first  attempted  in  lS!i(i,  the  i)\"ritic 
method  was  tried,  under  the  direction  of  Herbert  Lang.  This 
method  was  soon  abandoned  and  the  ordinary  blast  furnace 
method  in  general  us(^  in  Montana  was  adopted.  A  new 
plant  was  installed  by  II.  A.  Keller.  The  capacity  was  at 
first  250  tons  per  day.  This  was  (puidrupled  by  successive 
enlargeuKMits  mtkI  additions. 


SHASTA    COLNTV — MOLNTAIN    ((tlM'KK    MIXE.  73 

The  ore.  ;is  it  comes  from  the  mine,  carries  al)out  45  per 
<?ent  of  sulphur.  I'util  1899  the  raw  ore  was  roasted  in  stalls 
to  remove  a  \i\r\xe  percentage  of  the  suli)]nir.  but  in  Ihe  year 
mentioned  ht'.ip  roasting  in  the  open  air  was  substituted.  A 
large  percentage  of  the  or*',  including  the  fines,  was  roasted 
in  the  mechanical  rotary  calcining  furnaces,  which  are  the 
l>atcnted  invention  of  Lewis  T.  Wright,  the  general  manager 
of  the  projierties  and  ojx'rations  of  the  ^Mountain  Copper  Com- 
pany in  Californiii. 

The  plant  was  arranged  on  tlie  one-level  plan,  the  site  not 
permitting  the  terrace  arrangement  which  facilitates  the  hand- 
ling of  material.  The  ore  floors,  cupolas,  roasters,  etc.,  were 
all  upon  one  i)laiu\  and  liydraulic  elevators  were  used  for 
hoi-sting  to  the  charging  floors,  though  .some  of  the  ore  was 
eonve^-ed  directly  to  the  cupolas  on  elevated  tracks.  The  ore 
cupolas  produced  a  low-grade  matte,  probably  containing  20 
to  30  per  cent  of  copper,  and  this  was  in  part  subjected  to 
another  roasting  before  going  to  the  matte  furnaces  for  still 
further  reduction.  The  fines  from  the  calcining  furnaces, 
together  with  the  flue  dust  and  other  similar  material,  were 
bricked  by  tlie  briquetting  machinery  for  reduction  in  the 
various  furnaces. 

Early  in  1902  electric  light  and  power  for  both  smelter  and 
mine  began  to  be  supplied  by  the  Keswick  Electric  Light  and 
Power  Company  from  its  generating  plant  on  ]\Iill  Seat  Creek, 
40  miles  southeast  of  Redding,  and  about  55  miles  from  the 
mine.  The  company  owns  a  large  area  of  timber  land  on  the 
Pitt  River  ()5  miles  from  Keswick,  and  the  timber  and  wood 
supjdy  is  fl(jated  down  the  Pitt  and  Sacramento  rivers  to  near 
Keswick.  Water  for  use  at  the  smelter  is  pumped  from  the 
Sacramento  River.  The  company  has  also  extensive  holdings 
of  land  in  the  general  regions  of  the  mine  and  smelter.  Some 
of  it  was  acquired  for  its  timber,  some  for  its  possible  mineral 
values,  and  some  on  account  of  the  destructive  influence  on 
vegetation  of  the  sulphur  fumes  from  the  burning  ore  heaps 
and  the  smelter. 

^lany  details  of  interest  are  necessarily  absent  from  this 
sketch  of  the  ^Mountain  Copper  Company's  projierties  and 
operations,  owing  to  the  limited  information  afforded  the 
public  by  the  company  and  its  rule  that  the  officers  shall  not 


74  THE  COPPER  RESOURCES  OF  CALIFORNIA. 

discii.ss  its  liusiness.  Its  annual  reports,  however,  afford  a 
general  kno\vled}?e  of  its  operations  and  jrive  the  financial 
information  which  measures  its  sueeess.  Production  licufan 
early  in  181)6,  and  during  that  year  5663  tons  of  fine  copixT 
were  produced.  The  copper  production  of  the  four  following 
years  is  stated  by  these  reports  as  follows: 

1S'.»7.  1S!)8.  ISIM).  T.KIO. 

Ore  extracted,  tons l(>ri.(K;n  -J-Jl.Sit.-)  2(K5.')Ci.")  lT'.t.fH>4 

Oil'  sni(>lt<>(l.  tons !»7.1.S.-)  I(;s.r.l4  ITtl.f.Sil  L>07.r)71 

Copper  nuitte,  tons l:S.',s  lO.Tlil  1it.t;t;4  ll.'.HS 

Copper  refined,  tons .■>.!t.")8  8.27:;  1 1.:{88  11,443 

Copper  sold,  tons CO-J.")  S,27:'.  •.•.<i47  10..">8 

Average  per  cent  copper  in  ore 7.5  G.33  0.04  ."».77 

It  was  semi-oflfieially  reported  that  during  the  first  six  months 
of  1001  the  amount  of  ore  smelted  was  172,783  tons,  which 
would  represent  something  over  8000  tons  of  fine  copper.  The 
(juantity  of  ore  smelted  during  the  first  half  of  1J)01  was  over 
80  per  cent  of  the  total  quantity  for  the  previous  year,  and 
had  this  rate  of  production  been  continued  through  the  year 
a  very  large  annual  increase  would  have  resulted.  A  fire  in 
the  mine  and  other  circumstances  caused  a  large  falling  off 
in  the  output  of  the  last  six  months.  The  available  figures 
indicate  a  total  of  approximately  020,000  tons  of  ore  smelted 
during  the  first  six  years  of  operation,  with  an  approximate 
total  output  of  54,105  long  tons  of  fine  coppcM-.  This  is  efjual 
to  121,306,800  pounds. 

Custom  smelting  has  been  practiced  at  Keswick  since  the 
earliest  operations,  but  mainly  upon  silieious  gold  ores.  Only 
to  a  limited  extent  have  copper  ores  found  their  way  to  these 
works,  except  from  adjoining  counties.  Most  of  the  custom 
work  has  lieen  for  the  purpose  of  obtaining  the  silieious 
material  required  as  fiux  by  the  smelters  themselves.  Gold 
concentrates  have  been  treated  generally,  but  this  patronage  is 
not  solicited. 

Owing  to  the  exceptionally  low  percentages  of  arsenic,  anti- 
mony, etc.,  the  refined  product  of  the  ^Mountain  Copper  smelter 
conunands  a  premium  in  the  market  for  electrical  uses.  Its 
conductivity  is  rated  at  101.  or  more  than  the  standard  pre- 
viously fixed  for  copper  commercially  recognized  as  pure.  A 
paper  by  Edward  Keller,  in  ^Mineral  Industry  for  1000,  affords 
an  analysis  of  a  sample  of  copper  matte  from  the  ^fountain 


SHASTA    COUNTY MOrXTAIX    roiM'KK    MINK.  <•> 

CuppiT  ('(.iiipMiiy's  siiK'ltcr.  ^Mvin^'  the  follow  in--  composition 
by  pereenta^'es :  Copper.  ."iT.S:};  .sulpluir.  22.47;  iron.  l."3.28; 
nickel  and  <-..l)Mlt.  .(><»:);  /-inc.  2.0!);  lead.  .0711);  bismuth.  .OOU; 
antimony.  .071!);  aisciiic.  .013;  tellui-imii  and  selenium.  .OOli ; 
silver.  13.4  o/.  per  ton:  i^old.  ..■>1  o/.  pci-  ton.  This  matte,  of 
course,  carries  the  products  of  tlu.xin^  materials.  An  analysis 
of  the  refined  product  is  not  available. 

Since  the  pnl)lication  of  the  "Copper  Resources  of  Cali- 
fornia" in  1!)02.  Ki'i^'ttt  chan^'es  have  taken  place  in  the  opera- 
tion of  the  company's  smelter  at  Keswick.  In  consefiuem-e  of 
the  destruction  of  all  ve«ietation  within  a  radius  of  several 
miles  from  the  smelter,  the  company  became  the  defendant  in 
several  suits  for  damao^es  broujrht  ])y  individmil  property 
.nvn.Ts  in  the  nei^diborhood,  and  the  Cnited  States  Forest 
Reserve.  An  injunction  was  served  against  the  roastinu-  of 
the  ores,  which,  of  course,  interfered  with  the  general  i)lan 
followed  in  the  treatment  of  the  ores  and  necessitated  a  change 
in  the  smelting  operations. 

Roasting  in  heaps  and  stalls  has  been  abandoned  entirely; 
of  thirteen  McDougall  roasting  furnaces,  eight  have  been 
removed  to  the  company's  chemical  works  at  ^Martinez.  All  the 
citrht  converters  have  been  transferred  to  the  same  place  and 
two  of  the  five  matte  furnaces  were  torn  down.  Of  the  three 
remaining,  the  first  one  was  blown  in  the  latter  part  of  Jidy, 
1!)07.  after  an  extended  period  of  idleness.  :\Ietallic  copper 
is  no  longer  produced  at  the  smelter  and  the  matte  is  shipped 
to  the  company's  plant  at  Martinez  for  further  treatment. 
Instead  of  1000  men  as  before,  only  350  were  employed  at  the 
time  mentioned,  but  it  is  the  intention  of  the  company  to 
increase  the  capacity  as  soon  as  the  legal  difficulties  have  been 
adjusted. 

Natm;ill\  the  suspension  of  the  smelting  operations  affected 
the  production  of  the  mines,  and  at  the  time  mentioned  only 
about  150  men  were  employed  in  the  two  principal  camps 
of  the  company  on  Slick  Rock  and  Boulder  creeks.  Improve- 
ments, however,  have  not  been  interrupted,  and  preparations 
are  made  for  an  increased  output  as  soon  as  the  ore  can  be 
handled  at  the  smelter. 

At  the  Slick  Rock  Creek  camp  the  change  from  steam  power 
to  electricity  has  been  completed   for  the  entire  plant,   and 


76  THE  COPPER  RESOURCES  OF  CALIFORNIA. 

freight  is  lifted  from  the  railroad  ears  by  an  electric  hoist  and 
placed  on  a  horse  tramway,  level  with  the  mines.  A  building 
lias  bcoti  ci'cctcd  in  which  the  waters  coming  out  of  the  mine 
pass  tliruugh  a  series  of  long  boxes  tilled  with  scrap  iron  to 
precipitate  the  copi)er  held  in  solution,  and  the  value  saved  in 
this  manner  is  considerable.  A  light  scum  floating  on  the 
surface  and  showing  bright  metallic  scales  contains  30  per  cent 
copper,  while  the  heavier  coating  on  the  iron  assays  60  per  cent. 

Oil  the  north  slope  of  Iron  ]Mountain,  on  Boulder  Creek, 
an  iiiiiiicnse  ore  l)ody  has  l)een  exposed  in  the  Hornet  claim, 
and  i)reparations  are  .being  made  to  work  it  on  a  large  scale. 
A  heavy  gossan  running  nortli  W  degrees  east  indicates  the 
position  of  the  deposit  whicli  has  l)een  reached  by  several 
tunnels,  the  dimensions  of  which  have  not  yet  been  exactly 
determined.  One  tunnel,  located  300  feet  above  the  creek, 
follows  its  eastern  edge  for  over  500  feet;  another  starts  a 
short  distance  above  the  creek  and  runs  the  greater  part  of  its 
length,  whicli  is  1600  feet,  along  the  western  border.  About 
midway  between  these  t\v(».  but  on  a  lower  level,  has  been 
started  the  main  tuiniel,  10  l)v  10  feet,  wliieh  will  be  the 
outlet  for  all  the  ore  taken  from  the  mine.  The  arrangements 
for  handling  the  ore  will  be  exactly  the  same  as  in  the  Slick 
Rock  camp.  Electric  cars  will  haul  the  ore  to  a  point  above 
a  spur  of  the  railroad.  Avhence  it  will  be  carried  by  a  gravity 
road  to  the  bunkers  below  and  loaded  on  the  train  that  carries 
it  to  the  smelter.  The  main  tunnel  measured  300  feet  in  July, 
1907.    It  was  plainied  to  make  accessible  a  large  tonnage  of  ore. 

East  of  the  Hornet  on  Iron  Mountain,  and  on  the  mountain 
north  of  Boulder  Creek,  are  several  outcrops  of  go.ssan,  which 
will  l)e  prospected  by  means  of  diamond  drills. 

About  three  miles  west  of  Iron  ^lountain,  in  the  slate  for- 
mation, is  located  the  Lone  Star  group  of  claims,  owned  by 
the  ^Mountain  Copper  Company.  A  gossan  running  southeast- 
iiorthwest  crops  out  in  calcareous  shale,  and  about  400  feet 
of  prospect  work,  in  three  tunnels  and  one  winze,  has  been 
done,  showing  small  bodies  of  silicious  sulphides. 

The  Iron  Clad  [Mining  Company  owns  a  group  of  six  claims 
on  Clear  Creek,  township  32,  range  6  west,  sections  16  and  22. 
A  strong  iron  dike,  which  can  be  traced  for  some  distance, 
crosses  tlie  cn^'k  at  Covote  Point,  and  on  th<'  eastern  bank. 


E- 

D 
O 

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73 


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3 
CO 


r- 


y. 


78  THE  COPPER  RESOURCES  OF  CALIFORNIA. 

where  it  shows  a  strong  gossan,  an  open  ent  exposes  a  vein 
about  12  feet  wide,  carrying  iron  and  copper  sulphides.  The 
company  has  started  a  new  shaft  on  the  west  bank  of  the 
creek.  J.  0.  GiLson.  French  Creek  post  office,  has  charge  of  the 
property  (1908). 

]\Iaruce,  Lynch  et  al.  have  located  six  claims  on  an  iron 
outcrop  near  Whiskeytown  and  run  two  tunnels  of  138  and 
110  feet,  intended  to  cut  the  vein  150  feet  below  the  surface. 

At  the  head  of  Motion  Creek,  west  of  Copley,  have  been 
made  a  number  of  locations  on  iron  outcrops,  which  are  very 
similar  to  those  of  the  Iron  [Mountain  in  the  south  and  the 
Balaklala  on  the  north. 


BULLY  HILL  MINE. 

This  property  is  situated  nearly  twenty  miles  in  a  direct  line 
north  of  east  from  Iron  ^lountain  and  well  toward  the  eastern 
end  of  the  copper  belt.  The  Bully  Hill  is  an  old  property, 
which,  like  the  Mountain  Copper,  was  long  ago  and  for  a  good 
while  mined,  with  little  or  no  success,  for  the  gold  and  silver 
in  the  gossan  near  the  surface.  During  the  first  years  of  the 
operations  of  the  ^Mountain  Copper  Company  this  property 
underwent  extensive  exploration,  which  developed  important 
ore  bodies  justifying  the  expensive  further  development  and 
the  installation  of  mining  and  smelting  plants  which  followed. 

The  Bully  Hill  property  includes  (1908)  seventeen  lode 
claims  and  one  placer  claim,  all  patented,  aggregating  213 
acres.  It  stretches  for  about  two  miles  in  a  northeasterly 
direction,  close  to  Squaw  Creek  and  but  a  little  north  of  Pitt 
River.  It  is  in  sections  15,  16,  21,  22,  and  28^  township  34 
north,  range  3  west.  It  is  near  the  old  town  of  Copper  City, 
aiul  the  new  town  Delamar  adjoins.  About  1899,  on  the 
strength  of  the  showing  made  by  tuiuiels  driven  by  James 
Sallee,  the  property  was  bonded  by  J.  K.  I)e  La  Mar,  and  after 
further  develoi)ment  was  purchased  by  him  for  $225,000.  In 
1901.  the  property  was  transferred  to  the  Bully  Hill  Copper 
Milling  and  Smelting  Company,  of  which  ]\Ir.  De  La  ^lar  was 
president.  It  is  now  controlled  by  the  Western  Electric 
Company. 

The  Bullv  Hill  mine  lies  in  a  formation  classified  as  meta- 


A7/'/ce  /'ctZ/'z  ed  fafc  arid 
Shuttered /Va7J  HocTc 


Califiirniit  Slate  Minins  Bnrc.n 


CROSS-SECTION   OF  BULLY   MILL    MINE,  SHASTA  COUNTY.- 


•By  J.  J.  Kkittschmtt.  Jb 


80  THE  COPPER  RESOURCES  OF  CALIFORNIA. 

rhyolito.  The  ore  is  found  in  veins  trending  east  of  north, 
with  an  almost  vertical  dip  to  the  east,  varying'  in  width  from 
4  to  400  feet,  averatfiiiir  al)out  '-iO  feet.  The  eastern  wall  is 
formed  by  basalt  and  the  vein  beiNveen  the  two  formations  is 
considered  a  shear-zone,  bein^  filled  with  minei-alized  talc  and 
shattered  wall  rock.  Two  main  parallel  bodies  have  been 
exploited  in  the  lode  claims  and  one  in  the  Popejoy  placer 
claim.  The  ore  occurs  in  irregular  lenticular  ])()dies,  connected 
l)y  narrow  seams  of  ore,  attaining  a  width  of  43  feet  and  a 
length  of  200  feet.  In  tlie  basalt  wall  are  found  ore  deposits 
fully  equal  to  those  OQCurring  in  the  vein. 

Copper  oxides  (cuprite,  malachite,  etc.)  are  found  in  the 
upper  levels,  changing  into  copper  glance,  bornite,  with  depth, 
and  chalcop3'rite  in  the  lowest  levels.  The  ore  is  of  a  complex 
and  refractory  nature,  carrying  zinc,  antimony,  etc..  and  (as 
stated  by  good  authority)  enough  gold  and  silver  to  constitute 
about  half  the  value  of  the  matte  so  far  produced. 

The  mine  has  been  opened  by  a  number  of  tunnels  with 
extensive  drifts,  crosscuts,  upraises  and  stopes,  comprising 
many  thousand  feet.  The  lowest  tunnel,  No.  3  level,  was  run 
as  a  crosscut  and  struck  the  vein  at  a  distance  of  1100  feet 
and  about  600  feet  below  the  gossan  outcrop.  At  this  point 
a  station  of  100  feet  square  has  been  established,  and  exten- 
sive hoisting  and  pumping  machinery  has  been  in.stalled  for 
the  purpose  of  continuing  exploration  at  greater  depth.  A 
shaft,  well  timbered,  with  three  compartments  and  two  cages, 
has  l)een  sunk  to  a  depth  of  about  600  feet  below  the  apex. 
and  a  number  of  levels  extend  from  it  along  the  vein.  Tlie 
ore  held  out  so  well  in  the  lower  workings  that  the  company 
intends  to  continue  sinking.  It  was  originally  believed  that 
the  basalt  was  barren  at  this  depth,  but  the  good  showing 
seemed  to  disprove  this  assumption,  and  a  l;?0-foot  drift  was 
run  from  5th  level  into  the  basalt,  with  the  result  that  an 
exceedingly  large  and  rich  deposit  was  discovered. 

No.  3  level  is  connected  by  chutes  and  upraises  Mith  the 
upper  workings,  of  which  some  drifts  run  along  the  vein 
800  and  1000  feet.  The  mine  is  timbered  by  the  square-set 
system.  Alining  timbers  are  floated  down  Pitt  Kiver  from  the 
timber  region  to  the  northeast,  as  is  most  of  the  cordwood  used 
for  fuel  at  the  power  plant  and  the  roasting  stalls. 

Development   work    (1908)    is   eonstantly   going   on    at    the 


O 


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6— BuL.  50 


82  THE  COPPER  RESOURCES  OF  CALIFORNIA, 

rate  of  about  600  feet  per  month,  and  massive  bodies  of 
unusually  rich  sulphides  are  being  opened  with  remarkable 
consistency.  The  lowest  tunnel,  level  No.  3,  is  connected  by  a 
railway  with  the  well-equipped  smelting  plant  one  mile  distant, 
which  began  operations  in  May,  1901.  The  raw  ore  is  first 
roasted  in  stalls,  built  on  the  hillside  near  the  smelter,  forming 
a  stone  structure  39  by  310  feet  with  a  brick  stack  90  feet  high, 
connecting  with  the  stall  Hues.  The  smelting  i)laut  cost  about 
.$200,000,  and  included  one  water-jacket  furnace  42  by  120 
inches,  two  calcining  furnaces,  five  converters  for  bessemerizing 
the  matte,  a  machine  shop,  etc.  The  furnace  charge  usually 
consists  of  about  one  half  raw  and  one  half  calcined  ore.  The 
charge  carries  8  to  10  per  cent  coke,  2  to  3  per  cent  limestone, 
1  to  IVij  per  cent  ironstone,  and  the  balance  ore.  Limestone 
and  iron  for  fluxing  are  obtained  on  the  McCloud  River,  aliout 
six  miles  distant.     Sufficient  silica  is  obtained  from  the  mine. 

The  furnace  produces  a  matte  carrying  from  35  to  55  per 
cent  copper,  which  is  taken  directly  to  the  converters  in  a 
ladle  handled  by  an  electric  crane  having  a  capacity  of  20 
tons.  The  converters  are  68  by  98  inches  in  size  and  have  a 
capacity  of  five  tons.  The  product  of  the  converters  is  blister 
copper  about  98  per  cent  fine,  which  is  cast  into  large  rec- 
tangular slabs  for  shipment  to  the  refinery  built  by  Captain 
De  La  Mar  on  Kill  von  Kull,  near  New  York  City.  ^Mining 
and  reduction  cost  values  and  output  are  not  obtainable. 

The  power  for  the  mine  and  smelter  is  furnished  by  the 
California  Power  Company,  which  has  transmission  lines  run- 
ning to  Bully  Hill  from  three  of  its  generating  stations.  The 
voltage  of  these  lines  is  35,000  volts. 

The  company  has  constructed  (1908)  a  standard  gauge  rail- 
road from  De  La  Mar  through  Copper  City  to  Pitt,  a  station  on 
the  Southern  Pacific  Railroad,  two  miles  above  Kennet,  of 
great  economic  value,  because  heretofore  the  company  had  to 
carry  all  its  freight  to  Bella  Vista,  to  the  line  of  a  private 
railroad.  The  Bully  Hill  Mining  and  Smelting  Company  pur- 
chased and  bonded  other  properties  on  the  belt  of  which  the 
most  important  was  the  old  Baxter  and  Winthrop  group  near 
Copper  City,  ranking  (in  1908)  fourth  along  the  whole  bolt 
in  the  amount  of  development. 


CHl'TK   BKT\Vi:i:X    TlXXIOhS   N<is.    J    AXM    ?,.    KLIOCTKK"    FOWKH 
HOUSE.    AND    TIMHKR    SHKDS,    BULLY    HILL    MINES. 


VIEW  OF  BULLY  HILL  SMELTER  FROM  MOUTH  OF  No.  3  TUNNEL. 


84  THE  COPPER  RESOURCES  OF  CALIFORNIA. 


OTHER  PROPERTIES. 

The  remaining-  properties  of  the  copper  belt  are  noted  suc- 
cessively, beginninor  at  the  western  end. 

Mineral  Mountain.— This  properly  consists  of  six  unpatented 
claims  about  three  miles  south  of  Iron  iMountain,  in  section  13, 
townshi])  82  north.  I'iinge  6  Avest,  and  lias  been  thought  to 
mark  the  soulliwcstci-ii  terminus  of  the  belt.  No  otlier  mining 
claims  carrying  copper  deposits  worthy  of  any  note  were 
kiidwii  to  exist  south. of  the  [Mountain  Copper  mine  in  Iron 
^b)untain  in  1908.  The  ^lineral  ^lountain  group  is  owned  by 
D.  T.  Callahan  et  al..  and  about  200  feet  of  tunnel  shows 
sulpliide  ore.     There  are  surface  indications  of  other  bodies. 

Sugar  Loaf  (Galvin)  Group. — This  property  is  located 
inmiediately  northeast  of  the  holdings  of  the  Mountain  Copper 
Company,  and  shows  the  first  prominent  outcrop  on  the  belt, 
after  leaving  the  Iron  IMountain  mines.  The  property  consists 
of  seventeen  claims,  pending  patent,  in  sections  25  and  26, 
township  33  north,  range  6  west,  located  on  Sugar  Loaf  Moun- 
tain, one  of  the  most  prominent  landmarks  of  the  copper  belt. 
The  formation  is  the  same  as  that  encountered  elsewhere  on 
the  belt.  Large  croppings  of  gossan,  in  places  400  feet  and 
over  in  width,  indicate  the  presence  of  ore  bodies  in  the  rhyo- 
litic  rock.  The  development  work  consists  of  12  tunnels, 
aggregating  4365  feet.  A  very  distinct  fissure,  bearing  api)rox- 
imateh'  north  and  south,  has  ])een  followed  about  1000  feet 
in  tunnels  Xos.  2  and  5.  Small  pockets  of  sulphide  ores  were 
encountered,  but  no  definite  ore  body  has  as  yet  been  dis- 
covered. Prom  20  to  30  men  are  constantly  emploj^ed,  and  an 
electrically  driven  air  compressor  is  being  installed.  The 
property  is  owned  by  the  Copper  [Mountain  Consolidated 
[Mining  Company  of  Redding,  [Mr.  John  Pillius.  president; 
F.  G.  King,  vice-president;  Fred  Grotefend,  secretary  and 
treasurer. 

King  Copper  Group. — The  King  Copper  group,  consisting 
of  twenty-two  claims  in  sections  23,  24,  25,  and  26,  township 
33  north,  range  6  west,  adjoins  the  Sugar  Loaf  on  the  north- 
east and  is  the  property  of  the  Trinity  Copper  Company.  It 
is  located  two  and  a  half  miles  south  of  the  Shasta  King,  the 


SHASTA    COUNTY — COPPER    MINES   AND   CLAIMS.  85 

main  Trinity  Copper  Conip.iiiy  holding:.  The  development  con- 
sists mainly  of  assessment  work  and  approximates  1000  feet 
of  opening's  in  the  aj^r^'reiirate. 

Jumping  Jack. — Five  claims  adjoining  the  King  Copper 
on  the  cast,  in  sections  24  and  25,  township  'V-]  north,  range  6 
west;  owned  hy  William  Kendrick.  ol"  Copley. 

Giant  Consolidated. — Tliirteen  claims  on  the  eastern  edge 
of  this  part  of  thi'  lieil.  iioiHi  of  the  .Inmping  Ja<-k.  in  section 
24.  luuiiship  IVS  north,  range  6  we.st.  and  .section  li),  township 
33  north,  range  5  west;  owned  l)y  \V.  II.  Soderherg  et  al.,  San 
Fi'nncisco. 

King. — Four  elaims  in  section  24.  township  33  north,  range 
(i  west;  owned  by  J.  K.  King,  of  Copley. 

United  Copper. — Eighteen  unpatented  claims  in  section  23, 
township  -'5:5  noi-th.  ran^v  (i  west,  adjoining  \\\v  King  Copper 
oti  the  nortli  and  west;  owned  by  Fred  Grotefend  et  al., 
Rediling. 

Webster  Consolidated  (Stowell)  Group.— The  AVebster 
Consolidated,  or  Stowell.  gi-oup  consists  of  seven  patented  and 
three  unpatented  claims.  h)cated  in  section  14.  townshij)  33 
north,  range  (i  west.  The  properix'  is  one  of  the  older  mines 
on  the  West  Sidi'  belt,  and  is  aboiil  three  and  a  half  miles 
northeast  of  Iron  Mountain.  The  development  (1908)  consists 
of  a  series  of  short  crosscut  tunnels  aggregating  500  to  (JOO 
feet  in  all,  none  of  which  has  reached  the  objective  point.  The 
J.  TT.  Stowell  Estate,  owner. 

Waters  Group. — The  Waters  group  is  located  in  section  14, 
township  :};)  noi-tli.  range  6  west,  and  consists  of  four  claims. 
They  adjoin  the  Webster  Consolidated  on  the  south,  and  some 
of  the  development  work  done  was  intended  to  reach  the  vein 
on  the  neighboring  property  at  greater  depth.  Its  location  is 
such  that  it  will  prove  of  value  to  the  adjoining  holdings,  and 
when  developed  the  properties  will  pfobiibly  be  operated  as 
one  mine.     !,.  Waters  and  E.  A.  Marshall,  of  Redding,  owners. 

Spread  Eagle  Group. — Twenty-seven  claims,  non-patented, 
in  section  13,  townshij)  33  north,  range  6  west;  owned  by 
AV.   G.   Onn  &   Sons,   of  Copley,   under  bond  to   the   Shasta 


86 


THE  COPPER  RESOURCES  OF  CALIFORNIA. 


County  Exploration  Company,  of  which  Mr.  ]\I.  E.  Dittmar 
is  managing;  director,  with  offices  in  Redding.  The  develop- 
ment work  consists  of  eight  tunnels,  aggregating  about  3000 


SHASTA   KING  MINE.  TRINITY  COPPER  MINING  COMPANY, 

SHASTA    COUNTY. 


SHASTA    COUNTY — COPI'EK    MINES   AND    CLAIMS.  87 

feet.     In  tunnel  No.  7  three  small  stringers  of  sulphide  were 
intercepted. 

Loraine  Group.— Twmly-t wo  claims  adjoining  the  Spread 
Ea^4e  on  tlie  northeast,  in  sections  7  and  18,  township  33 
north,  range  5  west ;  owned  by  D.  Endicott.  T.  J.  Foley,  M.  E. 
Arrighini,  and  the  Balaklala  Consolidated  Company,  wliich 
owns  one-fifth  interest  in  the  property. 

The  Shasta  King  Mine.— The  Shasta  King  mine  constitutes 
the   principal    huldings   of  the   Trinity   Copper   Company,    a 
Boston  corporation   (Thomas  W.  Lawson,  president),  and  is 
capitalized  for  $6,000,000.     The  Shasta  King  consists  of  twenty- 
two  patented  claims  in  sections  11  and  12,  township  33  north, 
range  6  west.     Besides  this  property  the   company   owns   a 
number  of  patented  claims,  known  as  the  Lawson  Butte,  in 
sections  24  and  26,  township  33  north,  range  6  west ;  580  acres 
on  Sqnaw  Creek,  800  acres  of  placer  mineral  and  timber  lands, 
400  acres  of  patented  ground  on  Motion  Creek,  near  Copley, 
that  was  at  one  time  spoken  of  as  a  possible  smelter  site. 
Owing   to   the    fact   that   men,    both    competent    and    incom- 
petent to  pass  equital)le  judgment  on  the  economic  value  of 
the  mine,  were  allowed  access  to  the  workings,  opinions  of  a 
conflicting  and  sensational  nature  were  given  publicity  which 
affected  the  entire  copper  producing  district,  and  the  officers 
of   the   company   adopted   a  stringent   policy   regarding   the 
admission  of  visitors  to  the  mine.     Thus   admission   to  the 
underground  workings  was  denied,  but  the  surface  indications 
were  inspected  and  information  was  tendered  by  the  officers 
which   made   the   compilation   of  this   report   possible.      The 
property  was  developed  under  bond  for  a  year  and  a  half 
prior  to  its  purchase  by  the  Trinity  Copper  Company,  and  at 
tlio  time  of  its  acquisition,  it  was  reported  that  a  large  ton- 
nage of  ore  was  opened  up  in  the  mine.     It  is  reported  that 
the  values  in  the  ore  averaged  5  per  cent  copper  and  about 
$2.50  to  $3  in  gold  and  silver.     The  company  acquired  the 
Shasta  King  toward  the  close  of  the  year  1900,  and  early  in 
tlie  following  year  commenced  development  work  on  a  large 
scale.     The  property  was  opened  up  mainly  by  tunnel  levels, 
aggregating  several  thousand  feet  in  length.     This  series  of 
tunnels  crosscut  the  ore  body  on  the  main  level  for  a  distance 


88  THE  COPPER  RESOURCES  OF  CALIFORXIA. 

of  1000  feet  around  the  mountain  side,  and  these  have  been 
connected  by  drifts  along  the  foot  wall.  The  large  ore  body 
of  a  massive  sulphide  character,  with  a  dip  but  slightly 
deviating  from  the  horizontal,  outcrops  on  the  mountain  side, 
forming  one  half  of  Squaw  Creek  canyon,  which  course  at  the 
mine  is  east  and  west.  The  gossan  croppings  are  very  promi- 
nent, and  can  be  followed  several  thousand  feet.  The  Shasta 
King  faces  the  Balaklala,  but  it  is  several  hundred  feet  below 
it.  A  double  track  incline  tram  850  feet  in  length,  and  having 
an  average  angle  of  42  degrees,  was  constructed  to  handle  the 
ore  from  the  mine  to  the  Balaklala  aerial  tram  connecting  that 
mine  with  the  reduction  plant  at  Coram.  However,  large  ship- 
ping bins  have  been  built  at  Coram  so  that  the  company  can 
ship  its  ore  pending  the  completion  of  the  local  smelter.  A 
large  bin  capacity  is  supplied  at  each  ore  handling  terminal 
from  mine  to  smelter.  The  company  expects  to  prospect  the 
Lawson  Butte  group  with  diamond  drills.  The  mine  is  equipped 
with  model  and  commodious  l)unk  and  boarding  houses. 
Austin  Tl.  Brown  is  general  manager,  with  offices  at  Kennet. 


THE  BALAKLALA  CONSOLIDATED  COPPER  COMPANY. 

In  1902  the  Western  Exploration  Company  secured  a  bond 
on  the  property  owned  by  this  company  and  carried  on  exten- 
sive development  work  until  1905,  when  it  passed  into  the 
hands  of  the  present  management.  Since  then  the  exploration 
of  the  ground  has  been  continued  and  extensive  improvements 
have  been  made  preparatory  to  the  extraction  of  the  large  ore 
bodies,  the  existence  of  which  had  been  determined  by  the 
preliminary  work. 

The  property  consists  of  more  than  seventy  patented  claims, 
aggregating  nearly  1500  acres,  situated  in  Flat  Creek  ^Mining 
District.  Shasta  County,  in  sections  11,  12,  13,  and  14,  about 
three  miles  from  Coram  Station  on  the  Southern  Pacific  Rail- 
road, between  Redding  and  Kennet.  The  mines  are  located  on 
the  south  side  of  Squaw  Creek,  at  an  elevation  of  2400  feet, 
on  the  steep  slope  of  a  mountain  rising  to  3650  feet  above  sea 
level.  Below  the  mines  the  creek  runs  in  a  narrow  canyon, 
about  700  feet  deep,  with  very  precipitous  slopes,  near  the 
bottom  of  which  on  the  opposite  side  are  the  tunnels  of  the 


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BALAKLALA   CONSOLIDATED  COPPER   COMPANY  AND   ADJOINING   PROPERTY,   SHASTA   COUNTY,  CALIFORNIA. 

STATE  MINING  BUREAU. 


SHASTA   COUNTY — COPPER    MINES   AND    CLAIMS. 


89 


Shasta  KuvA,  bolonjrin^'  to  the  Trinity  Copper  Company.  The 
camp  is  situated  between  Windy  Gulch  in  the  west  and  Mule 
Gulch  on  the  east,  close  to  the  latter.  It  is  well  equipped 
with  everythinrj  necessary  to  operate  the  mines  on  a  lar^e 
scale.  The  pay  roll  showed  164  names  in  1908,  but  accommo- 
dation was  l)einf;  made  for  a  much  larger  force.  Wood  and 
water  are  abundant,  and  a  good  wairon  road  leads  to  Coram, 
about  six  miles  distant. 

The   formation    is   described   in   the   report   of   the   United 
States  Geological  Survey  as  meta-rhyolite,  extensively  folded 


_-,,U?^2liV;.rfiA4?<:^*C->*.4#x. 


BALAKLA1.A  CONSOLl  OATKU  COITKK  MINING  COMPANV 
SMELTER,  CORAM.  SHASTA  COUNTY. 

and  faulted.  The  ore  occurs  in  flat  bodies  with  a  slight  dip 
to  the  north  and  the  greatest  extension  nearly  east  and  Avest. 
A  serias  of  step  faults  from  north  to  south,  running  east  and 
west,  have  caused  a  displacement  of  the  ore  bodies  from  a  few 
feet  to  100  feet  and  more.  The  ore  bodies  farthest  west,  on 
the  Early  Bird,  the  Copper  Alps,  and  the  El  Capitan  claim 
in  Windy  Gulch,  occupy  a  horizon  more  than  100  feet  above 
the  Weil  tunnel  deposit,  and  the  ore  in  the  Shasta  King  is 
several  hundred  feet  lower  than  the  latter.  Besides  the  faults 
there  are  fissures  running  north  and  south  through  Windy 
Gulch  and  :\Iule  Gulch,  which  define  the  ore  bodies.     These 


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■  tOA    (  runqOJ   aii  i  .■.:Ji-l'Jc:^'l' 


SHASTA   COUNTY — COPPER    MINES    ANO    CLAIMS. 


89 


SliJista  Kiiii,%  bolon^nng  to  the  Trinity  Copper  Company.  Tlie 
camp  is  situated  between  Windy  Gulch  in  the  west  and  Mule 
Gulch  on  the  east,  close  to  the  latter.  It  is  well  equipped 
with  everything  necessary  to  operate  the  mines  on  a  large 
scale.  The  pay  roll  showed  164  names  in  1908,  but  accommo- 
dation was  being  made  for  a  much  larger  force.  Wood  and 
water  are  abundant,  and  a  good  wagon  road  leads  to  Coram, 
about  six  miles  distant. 

The   formation    is   described   in   the   report    of   the   United 
States  Geological  Survey  as  meta-rhyolite,  extensively  folded 


BALAKLALA    CUXSOLl  DATED     (      -1    I'Kli     -MI-NING    COiMPANY 
SMELTKR,    CORAM,     .-IIA-TA     CorXTY'. 

and  faulted.  The  ore  occurs  in  flat  bodies  with  a  slight  dip 
to  the  north  and  the  greatest  extension  nearly  east  and  west. 
A  serias  of  step  faults  from  north  to  south,  running  east  and 
west,  have  caused  a  displacement  of  the  ore  bodies  from  a  few 
feet  to  100  feet  and  more.  The  ore  bodies  farthest  west,  on 
the  Early  Bird,  the  Copper  Alps,  and  the  El  Capitan  claim 
in  Windy  Gulch,  occupy  a  horizon  more  than  100  feet  al)0ve 
the  Weil  tunnel  deposit,  and  the  ore  in  the  Shasta  King  is 
several  hundred  feet  lower  than  the  latter.  Besides  the  faults 
there  are  fissures  running  north  and  south  through  Wmdy 
Gulch  and  Mule  Gulch,  which  define  the  ore  bodies.     These 


90  THE  COPPER  RESOURCES  OF  CALIFORNIA. 

fissures  are  supposed  to  have  affected  the  ore  bodies,  which 
increase  in  size  and  improve  in  qualitj'  in  their  neiijhborhood. 

The  ore  is  a  hard,  heavy  iron  sulpliide,  carrying  chalco- 
pyrite,  a  little  glance,  covellite  and  a  little  gold  and  silver. 
Iron  varies  from  31.6  to  42.2  per  cent  and  silica  from  23  to 
55  per  cent. 

The  locations  cover  over  3000  feet  on  the  strike  of  the  lode, 
and  besides  some  undeveloped  prospects  two  large  separate 
ore  bodies  are  known,  one  near  Mule  Gulch,  the  other  in  the 
vicinitj^  of  Windy  Camp.  The  latter  was  discovered  first,  its 
eastern  portion  cropping  out  on  the  mountain  side  where 
about  40  feet  of  ore  are  exposed  and  a  number  of  tunnels 
Avere  run  into  it,  two  of  which  were  900  and  1000  feet  long. 
It  is  known  to  measure  900  feet  on  the  strike,  varying  in  thick- 
ness from  20  to  60  feet.    The  ore  is  reported  as  assaying : 

Gold    025  oz. 

Silver     85    oz. 

Copper     2.4G% 

Silica    23.5  % 

Iron     29.8  % 

There  is  a  possibility  that  new  ore  bodies  may  be  found 
farther  west,  good  ore  having  been  discovered  on  the  Early 
Bird  and  Copper  Alps  claims.  The  eastern  body,  near  Mule 
Gulch,  was  discovered  by  means  of  the  diamond  drill,  and 
developed  through  the  Weil  tunnel,  which  reaches  it  at  750 
feet.  Upraises  were  made  through  its  entire  thickness  and 
drifts  run  on  both  sides  until  the  walls  were  struck,  and  in 
this  way  the  dimensions  were  found  to  be  approximately  1200 
feet  in  length  from  east  to  west,  300  feet  in  width  north  and 
south,  and  from  20  to  40  feet  in  thickness.  At  No.  1  raise  the 
ore  lies  95  feet  above  the  tunnel,  at  No.  4,  720  feet  west  of 
No.  1,  20  feet,  showing  a  decided  pitch  in  that  direction.  This 
ore  is  reported  as  assaying: 

Gold    0228  oz. 

Silver     S2      oz. 

Copper    2.734% 

Iron    29.10  % 

Silica    29.80  % 

The  cost  of  mining  is  estimated  at  $1.75  per  ton.  Ore 
blocked  out,  1,051,555  tons;  ore  estimated,  1.040,894  tons; 
total,  2,092,449  tons.     These  figures  are  taken  from  a  report 


y. 


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y. 

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92  THE  COPPER  RESOURCES  OP  CALIFORNIA. 

on   the   property   l\v   Duncan  IMacvichie,    for   which   we   are 

indebted  to  the  courtesy  of  the  Balakhda  Consolidated  Copper 

Company. 
A  drift   has   been   run   from  the  Weil  tunnel   towards  the 

Windy  Camp  deposit,  from  which  a  240-foot  upraise  opens  in 
front  of  tunnels  Nos.  8  and  10.  It  is  the  intention  to  carry 
all  the  ore  from  this  part  of  the  mine  to  the  Weil  tunnel,  from 
which  it  will  be  hauled  by  electric  cars  to  the  bins  at  the 
terminal  of  the  wire  tramway.  Here  it  is  reduced  to  the  size 
of  4  to  5  inches  and  loaded  into  the  buckets  which  deliver  it 
at  the  smelter.  The  tramway  is  of  the  Riblet  system,  16,130 
feet  in  length,  with  a  capacity  of  75  tons  per  hour.  An  arrange- 
ment has  been  made  with  the  Trinity  Copper  Company  to  carry 
the  ore  from  adjoining  property  over  this  tramway  to  the 
smelter  or  the  railroad  station,  and  for  this  purpose  a  gravity 
road  800  feet  long  has  been  built  from  the  ore  bin  down  the 
steep  slope  to  the  bottom  of  Squaw  Creek  Gulch,  where  it  con- 
nects with  the  main  tunnel  of  the  Shasta  King. 

The  Balaklala  Company  has  constructed  a  large  smelter  at 
Coram  Station  on  the  Sacramento  River,  township  32  north, 
range  6  west,  sections  20  and  21.  nine  miles  north  of  Redding, 
which  is  nearly  completed.  The  principal  structures  of  the 
plant  are  the  furnace  house,  the  blower  building,  the  matte 
and  roaster  buildings,  dust  chamber  and  smokestack,  ore  bins 
and  the  usual  accessories,  machine  and  repair  shops,  assay  office 
and  laboratory,  general  offices,  residences,  etc.  The  furnace 
house  contains  a  reverberatory  smelting  furnace  and  three 
matte  blast  furnaces. 

The  reverberatory  furnace  is  90  feet  long  by  15  feet  6  inches 
wide  inside,  and  oil  is  used  as  fuel.  The  waste  heat  is  utilized 
to  generate  steam  power  in  two  Sterling  boilers. 

The  matte  furnaces  are  of  the  largest  size.  56  by  240  inches 
between  tuyeres,  of  which  there  are  20  on  each  side,  and  18 
feet  high  from  bottom  to  feed  floor.  AVater  jackets  form  the 
walls  from  the  bottom  to  the  feed  floor,  and  except  a  12-inch 
layer  of  fire  brick  in  the  bottom,  no  material  but  iron  is  used 
in  the  construction.  The  capacity  of  each  furnace  is  at  least 
400  tons  per  day. 

The  furnaces  stand  on  an  elevated  floor,  which  facilitates 
the  handling  of  the  product.     The  slag  is  tapped  into  large 


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STATE  MINING  BunEAT'.        MAMMOTH   COPPER   MINING   COMPANY'S   PROPERTY,    SHASTA   COUNTY,    CALIFORNIA. 


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94  THE  COPPER  RESOURCES  OF  CALIFORNIA. 

irou  pots  on  wheels  and  hauled  by  electric  engines  to  the 
dump.  The  matte  runs  into  iron  pots  which  are  lifted  by  an 
overhead  electric  crane  and  carried  to  the  matte  house,  where 
it  is  cast  into  iron  molds  and  put  on  railroad  cars,  if  rich 
enough  for  shipment,  or  returned  to  the  furnaces  if  too  poor. 

A  separate  building  contains  four  jNIcDougall  roasting  fur- 
naces of  50  tons  capacity  each.  They  are  not  provided  with 
fireplaces,  only  a  little  fuel  being  required  at  the  beginning  to 
start  the  combustion,  which  afterwards  is  kept  up  by  the 
sulphur  in  the  ore. 

Three  300  cubic  feet  -Root  blowers  furnish  the  blast  for  the 
furnaces,  each  driven  by  a  450-horsepower  tandem  compound 
steam  engine,  directly  connected.  Steam  power  is  supplied 
by  five  Sterling  boilers,  for  three  of  which  oil  is  used  as  fuel, 
while  two  are  heated  by  the  gases  from  the  roasting  furnace. 
Blast  pressure  will  be  about  36  ounces. 

One  large  building  contains  the  bins  for  receiving  ores  and 
the  sampling  floor,  and  on  the  level  with  the  feeding  floor  of 
the  furnace  house  is  a  roAV  of  bins  500  feet  in  length,  from 
which  the  ore  is  carried  in  cars  to  the  feeding  doors  of  the 
furnaces.  Part  of  these  bins  contain  the  fluxes  necessary  for 
smelting  the  ores. 

Large  dust  chambers  carry  the  smoke  and  fumes  from  the 
roasters  and  furnaces  to  a  smokestack  250  feet  high,  on  top 
of  the  hill,  an  elevation  which  is  deemed  sufficient  to  avoid 
evil  consequences. 

When  the  ore  arrives  from  the  mines  it  wall  pass  through 
4  b}^  10  feet  revolving  sizing  drums,  and  the  coarse  material 
goes  to  the  blast  furnaces.  The  fines  are  roasted  in  the 
McDougall  furnaces,  and  with  flue  dust  are  smelted  into  matte 
in  the  reverberatory  furnace. 

Ohio  Consolidated. — Patented  claims  in  section  12,  town- 
ship 33  north,  range  6  west;  owned  by  Morton  &  Bliss,  New 
York.    No  development. 

Friday  &  Lowden  Group. — The  Friday  &  Lowden  group 
consists  of  tliirteen  claims,  located  in  sections  5  and  6,  town- 
ship 33  north,  range  5  west,  and  also  that  portion  of  the  north- 
west quarter  of  section  5  and  the  north  half  of  the  southwest 
quarter  of  section  5  not  included  in  the  mineral  locations. 


SHASTA   COUNTY — COPPER   MINES   AND    CLAIMS.  95 

This  part  of  the  land  is  patented.  This  group  of  claims  is  the 
first  encountered  on  the  copper  belt  on  the  north  side  of 
Squaw  Creek,  and  is  directly  east  of  the  gold  belt  in  which 
the  Uncle  Sam  mine  is  located.  The  geological  conditions, 
however,  are  similar  to  the  conditions  encountered  in  other 
parts  of  the  copper  territory.  The  mine  is  opened  mainly  by 
means  of  tunnels.  A  crosscut  tunnel  driven  on  the  northerly 
end  of  the  group,  on  the  Cleveland  claim,  is  in  ore.  A  second 
tunnel  iuis  been  started  175  feet  deeper.  On  the  Wild  Bear 
claim  easterly  from  the  main  development  a  70-foot  tunnel 
discloses  considerable  ore,  and  a  shorter  tunnel  250  feet  farther 
along  the  strike  is  also  in  ore.  On  the  common  end  line  of  the 
"Wild  Boar  and  Comstock  claims  a  tunnel  65  feet  in  length 
shows  some  sulphide,  after  penetrating  the  gossan  or  oxidized 
ore,  the  latter  prospecting  in  free  gold.  The  total  tunnel  open- 
ings aggregate  fully  800  feet  in  length.  The  strike  is  northeast 
and  southwest,  and  the  croppings  occur  at  an  altitude  of  about 
2000  feet.    ^Messrs.  Friday  and  Zowden,  of  Redding,  owners. 


MAMMOTH  MINE. 

This  property  is  situated  in  the  Backbone  district,  in  the 
most  northerly  portion  of  the  copper  belt,  four  miles  north  of 
west  of  Kennet;  elevation,  3000  feet,  or  2200  feet  above  that 
place.  It  consists  of  twenty-five  claims  and  fractions  in  sec- 
tions 32  and  29,  and  part  of  sections  31  and  33,  township  34 
north,  range  5  west,  and  some  land  in  sections  2  and  3,  town- 
ship 33  north,  range  5  west,  in  all  about  1900  acres,  patented. 
It  is  owned  by  the  United  States  Mining  and  Smelting  Com- 
pany of  Boston,  but  is  operated  as  the  Mammoth  Copper 
^Mining  Company;  Fred  Lyon,  manager,  post  office  Kennet. 

Formation  and  character  of  ore  are  the  same  as  in  the 
other  mines  of  the  western  part  of  the  Shasta  County  copper 
belt.  A  gossan  outcrop,  200  feet  wide,  can  be  traced  800  feet, 
and  the  underlying  ore  bodies,  which  are  reported  to  be  very 
large,  are  opened  up  by  numerous  tunnels,  drifts,  etc.,  aggre- 
gating about  14,000  feet.  The  lowest  tunnel,  the  Coleman 
level,  serves  for  hauling  the  ore  from  all  parts  of  the  mine 
to  the  surface.  In  working  the  mine  the  caving-in  plan  is 
used;  after  removing  the  ore  from  a  certain  area  the  empty 


96  TUE  COPPER  RESOURCES  OF  C.VLIFORNIA. 

stope  is  filled  by  shooting  down  the  roof.  The  effect  of  this 
method  is  seen  on  top  of  the  mountain  above  the  mine,  where 
the  ground  has  caved  in  many  places  and  is  crossed  by 
numerous  fissures. 

After  the  erection  of  the  company's  smelter  the  output  of 
the  mine,  amounting  to  about  500  tons  per  day,  was  trans- 
ported to  the  smelter  over  an  aerial  wire  tramway,  Riblet 
system,  13,000  feet  in  length;  but  when  the  planned  enlarge- 
ment of  the  smelter  is  completed,  this  quantity  will  be  inade- 
quate to  supply  the  increased  capacity  and  a  change  in  the 
transportation  system  will  be  made.  The  mines  will  be 
equipped  with  an  electric  railway,  3-foot  gauge,  2  miles  long, 
which  will  carry  the  ore  to  the  head  of  a  gravity  road  4000 
feet  long,  with  a  drop  of  1700  feet.  This  road  will  have  a 
gauge  of  4  feet  8  inches,  a  double  track,  and  skips  of  20  tons 
capacity  each.  From  the  l)ins  at  the  bottom  of  this  road  the 
ore  will  be  loaded  into  ordinary  railroad  cars  and  carried  2 
miles  to  the  smelter.  Oil  is  used  as  fuel  for  the  locomotives 
and  the  cars  are  bottom  dumping. 

The  mine  is  equipped  with  all  the  buildings  and  mechanical 
devices  necessary  for  operations  on  a  large  scale,  offices, 
dwelling  houses,  air  compressors,  sawmill,  blacksmith  and 
repair  shops,  etc. 

The  smelter,  built  in  1905,  is  located  one  and  one  half  miles 
from  Kennet,  near  the  Southern  Pacific  Railroad,  and  con- 
nected with  it  by  a  spur.  It  has  three  blast  furnaces,  42  by 
180  inches  at  the  tuyeres,  steel  water-jacketed,  provided  with 
both  side  and  end  doors ;  joint  capacity  about  1000  tons  of  ore 
and  fluxes  per  day  (75  per  cent  ore,  25  per  cent  fluxes  and 
furnace  by-products),  Avhich  are  fed  mechanically,  with 
exception  of  the  coke.  The  smelting  is  semi-pyritic,  the  ore 
being  smelted  without  roasting  and  with  a  low  percentage  of 
coke.  Cold  l)last  of  42-ounce  pressure  is  supplied  by  three 
Connersville  cycloidal  blowers,  belt  driven  by  three  200- 
horsepower  alternating  current  motors.  The  furnace  settlers 
are  of  the  continuous  flow  syphon  type,  and  thf  matte  is 
discharged  from  the  spouts  upon  a  traveling  matte  casting 
machine  and  when  chilled  is  dropped  into  wheelbarrows. 

The  smoke  from  the  furnaces  passes  through  a  200-foot  flue 
into  a  dust  chamber  60  feet  long,  456  square  feet  area,  and 


SHASTA   COUNTY — COPPER    MINES   AND   CLAIMS.  97 

escapes  through  a  steel  stack  12  feet  in  diameter,  150  feet  hijrh. 
The  flue  dust  is  mixed  with  some  fine  sulphide  ore  and  made 
into  bricks  by  a  l)i'i(iuettinjj:  machine  of  a  capacity  of  G  tons 
per  hour. 

In  11)07  the  company  conuuencod  with  the  enlartrement  of 
the  plant,  which  necessitated  a  change  in  the  transportation  of 
the  ore  from  the  mine.  Two  new  bla.st  furnaces,  constructed 
like  the  old  ones.  .")()  by  180  inches  between  tuyeres,  will  be 
erected  and  two  converter  stands,  each  of  four  AUis-Chalmers 
improved  !)(>  by  ir)()-iii(li  converter  shells,  will  l)e  added. 
Instead  of  shipping  tlu'  matte  to  the  company's  works  at 
Bingham.  I'tah,  as  has  been  done  heretofore,  in  future  it  will 
1k^  resmclted  until  rich  enough  to  be  refined  in  the  converters. 
Four  additional  Connersville  blowers,  each  driven  hy  one 
22r)-h()rsep()wer  general  electric  motor,  will  be  installed  and  a 
Xordberg  converter  blowing  engine  of  750-horsepower. 

The  present  storage  capacity  will  be  increased  many 
thousand  tons  In  the  addition  of  a  number  of  new  ore  bins, 
and  dust  chamber  and  smokestack  will  also  be  greatly  enlarged. 
Water  is  obtained  from  Big  Backbone  Creek  by  a  ditch  and 
flume  and  delivered  at  the  smelter  inider  60  pounds  pressure. 
More  than  1(M»0  men  are  cmidoyed  at  mine  and  smelter. 

Mayflower. — Six  unpatented  claims  in  section  32,  township 
34  north,  range  5  west;  owned  by  C.  G.  Ferguson  and 
B.  ri()linsk.\-.  of  Kennet.  A  little  development  work  has  shown 
some  high-grade  ore. 

Bohematosh. — Seven  claims  in  section  25,  township  33 
north,  range  (i  west;  owned  )>>  AValter  Friday  and  J.  R.  Low- 
den.  Disseminated  sulphides  are  abundant,  with  ext«'nsive 
croppings  of  gossan.  This  is  several  miles  north  of  the  definite 
limits  of  the  belt  j)i-opcr. 

Summit  Group. — This  property  consists  of  thirty  unpat- 
ented claims  located  on  the  eastern  slope  of  T-5ohematosli 
Mountain,  on  a  ridge  lying  between  the  north  and  south  t'oi'k 
of  Little  Backbone  Creek,  in  section  MK  township  34  north, 
range  5  west,  at  an  elevation  of  about  3000  feet,  and  adjoins 
the  Mammoth  Company's  property  on  the  west.  The  Graves, 
Summit,  and  North  Mammoth  Extension  groups  comprise  the 
Summit  holdings.     The  ground  is  ver^-  regular,  the  formation 

7— BuL.  50 


98  THE  COPPER  RESOURCES  OF  CALIFORNIA. 

being  the  same  in  character  as  the  more  southerly  part  of 
the  belt.  The  country  rock  is  heavily  mineralized  and  the 
surface  indications  are  very  pronounced  in  this  part  of  the 
belt.  The  strike  of  the  ore  can  be  readil}-  traced  around  the 
mountain  side  for  fully  2400  feet.  Three  tunnels  have  been 
driven,  one  on  the  northeasterly,  one  on  the  southerly,  and  one 
on  the  westerly  portion  of  the  ground.  No.  2,  the  main  tunnel, 
is  in  about  400  feet  and  an  upraise  is  driven  at  350  feet,  which 
is  about  50  feet  high  at  present,  to  determine  the  foot  wall  of 
the  sulphide  ledge  encountered  in  the  floor  of  the  upper  tunnel, 
No.  1.  The  ore  body,  which  appears  to  lie  between  tunnels  Nos.  1 
and  2,  has  a  shallow  dip  to  the  northwest.  Prospect  shafts 
sunk  in  the  croppings  above  tunnel  No.  1  indicate  a  width 
of  at  least  35  feet,  with  ore  reported  to  assay  8  per  cent  copper : 
the  sulphide  ore  from  the  tunnel  is  reported  to  contain  from 
6  to  141/2  per  cent  copper.  The  first  90  feet  of  tunnel  No.  1 
was  driven  through  a  secondary  deposition  caused  by  leaching 
of  the  ore  bodv  and  carrving  values  throughout.  The  next 
50  feet  passed  through  a  quartzite  foot  wall,  intersected  with 
numerous  seams  bearing  sulphide  ore,  varying  from  a  few 
inches  to  a  foot  and  a  half  in  width.  Between  the  foot  wall 
and  the  solid  sulphide  l)()dy  a  breccia  carrying  a  high  percent- 
age of  copper  sulphide  was  encountered.  Tunnel  No.  3, 
situated  at  some  little  distance  from  Nos.  1  and  2  and  driven 
nearly  west,  is  in  400  feet,  following  a  contact  of  rhyolite 
and  i)orphyry.  Ore  has  been  found  here,  but  more  or  less 
in  a  disseminated  state.  Total  development  about  1200  feet. 
AVater  and  timber  in  abundance  are  on  the  ground.  The 
property  is  under  bond  to  the  Stauffer  Chemical  Company  of 
San  Francisco,  which  has  installed  a  Sullivan  compressor  with 
a  capacity  of  four  drills.  Superintendent,  Chas.  Kunze;  post 
office,  Kennet. 

Ferguson  &  Limbough. — This  group,  in  section  4,  township 
33  north,  range  5  west,  is  developed  by  165  feet  of  tunnels 
showing  some  ore. 

Great  Verde. — Twelve  claims,  four  of  which  are  patented, 
in  sections  11  and  12,  township  33  north,  range  6  west;  owned 
by  the  Vulcan  ]\Iining  Company,  John  Lyle,  of  Dunsmuir, 
president,    and   "W.    T.    Shaw  \ace-president.      This   property 


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lUO  THE  COPPER  RESOURCES  OF  CALIFORNIA. 

adjoins  the  lialaklala  on  the  north  and  the  Sliasta  Kin<r  on 
the  west.  Between  2000  and  3000  feet  of  development  has 
been  done  in  tnnnels.  In  four  of  these  tunnels  low-grade  ore 
was  exposed  near  the  surface.  The.  practice  of  prospecting 
with  diamond  drills,  owned  by  the  company,  is  being  inaugu- 
rated. 

Golinsky  Group. — A  group  of  fourteen  unpatented  claims, 
in  section  28,  township  34  north,  range  5  west,  adjoining  the 
^Tammoth  line  on  the  east,  four  miles  west  of  Kennet.  owned 
by  B.  (Jolinsky,  of  Kennet.  The  property  was  bonded  to  an 
eastern  e.\plorati(m  company.  J.  G.  Fletcher  superintendent, 
with  ofifice  in  Kennet.  A  body  of  sulphides  has  been  disclosed, 
underlying  a  mineralized  rhyolite,  the  presence  of  which  was 
indicated  by  a  gossan  outcrop.  The  ledge  has  a  strike  south- 
west-northeast and  dip  southeast. 

Keystone  Group. — Six  unpatented  claims  in  section  23, 
township  33  north,  range  (i  west;  owned  by  G.  Grotefend  et  al., 
of  Redding.  It  was  under  bond  to  San  Francisco  people,  but 
was  forfeited  on  account  of  cessation  of  work. 

The  foregoing  properties  are  those  worthy  of  present  note 
(1908)  on  the  west  side  of  the  Sacramento  River,  and  embrace 
the  groups  of  claims  ranged  for  about  twelve  miles  along  the 
western  end  of  the  belt  northeasterly  from  Iron  ^lountain. 
On  the  east  side  of  the  Sacramento  River  the  belt  includes  the 
following  properties: 

Gregory  &  Whalen. — Also  known  as  the  Com  Paul  group, 
rndcvcloped  claims  showing  gossan  croppings  30  to  40  feet 
witle.  situated  on  the  Sacramento  River,  a  few  miles  north  of 
Kennet,  in  section  25.  township  35  north,  range  5  west. 

Shasta  May  Blossom  Group. — Known  as  the  Keith  group. 
This  pr(»pt'rt\-  comprises  twenty-two  unpatented  claims  in 
section  14,  township  34  north,  range  3  west.  The  jiresent 
development  consists  of  seven  tunnels,  aggregating  2000  feet, 
])esides  some  15  or  20  open  cuts.  The  lower  or  main  working 
tunnel  is  in  about  700  feet,  and  crosscuts  what  is  believed  to 
be  the  ore  body.  The  vein  matter  is  a  spar  and  the  foot  wall  is 
a  grav  schistose   rock,   while  the  hanging  wall   is  a   granite- 


y. 


V. 


X 


]02  THE  COPPER  RESOURCES  OF  CALIFORNIA. 

pori)liyry.  The  next  higher  tunnel  starts  on  the  west  side  of 
the  monntain,  on  the  lower  end  of  the  Cop})er  King  claim, 
niiiiiing  480  feet  to  the  northwest  through  the  wall  rock.  This 
tunnel  encounters  a  Avidening  of  the  ore  bearing  formation. 
The  ore  is  decomposed  and  carries  some  gold.  Higher  up  the 
liillsidc  there  is  a  body  of  gossan  croppings,  probably  80  feet 
wide,  'i'lie  top  of  the  mountain  is  capped  with  rliyolite;  below 
it  and  dipping  to  tlie  east,  are  the  gossans.  The  company  is 
operating  a  compressor  driven  by  two  gas  engines,  l)ut  hand 
di'illing  is  also  employed.  This  property  is  owned  by  the 
Shasta  May  Blossom  Copper  Company.  Presidenl.  M.  Liiidley, 
of  Fruitvale,  Cal.:  superintendent,  L.  S.  Smith. 

Brushy  Canyon  Group. — A  nuiuher  of  un])atented  claims 
in  section  34,  township  84  north,  range  8  west ;  developed 
under  bond  by  F.  H.  Dakin  &  Co.,  Studio  building.  Oakland, 
Cal.:  owned  by  W.  Collins,  M.  Barker  et  al..  of  Copper  City. 
A  tunnel  is  in  over  300  feet  through  a  black,  slaty-shale  forma- 
tion, distorted  and  sheared  by  intrusions.  The  ledge  outcrops 
on  the  surface. 

Doedollis  Group. — Consists  of  five  unpatented  claims 
located  in  section  84,  township  34  noi'tli.  range  8  west,  and  is 
owned  1\\-  AVilliain  Ellis,  J.  Tj.  CatUKUi,  and  otliers. 

Afterthought  Mine. — The  property  of  the  Great  AVestern 
Gold  Company,  is  situated  at  Ingot,  in  sections  10  and  11. 
lownshij)  '.]'■]  iioi'th.  i-ange  -  west,  and  consists  of  twenly  claims, 
ten  of  which  are  patented.  The  town  of  Ingot  spreads  along 
the  west  side  of  the  canyon  of  North  Cow  Creek,  which  runs 
into  the  Sacramento  RivcM-;  c^levation  1150  feet;  twenty-four 
miles  fi'om  Redding,  the  eounty  seat.  Though  this  company 
is  known  as  the  Great  Western  Gold  Company,  its  values 
consist  principally  of  copper  and  silver,  with  an  appreciable 
amount  of  gold.  Of  the  claims,  the  Copper  Hill  and  the  After- 
thought hold  the  larger  part  of  the  ore  body  and  are  the  main 
producers.  The  ore  body  is  distinctly  a  contact  deposit  in  a 
formation  of  nuirked  schistose  character,  which  is  indicatory 
of  severe  metamorj)hic  action.  Evidences  of  great  movement 
are  more  noticeable  near  and  in  the  contact  zone,  a  condition 
which  was  doul)tless  inaugurated  at  the  time  of  the  rhyolitic 
and  basaltic  intrusions.    Where  metamorphic  action  has  caused 


SHASTA   COUNTY — COPPER    MINES   AND   CLAIMS.  103 

fjreatest  movement  ii>  shales  and  stratified  andesite,  ricliest  ores 
are  encountered.  The  contact  is  followed  to  a  considerable 
depth,  much  of  the  best  grade  ore  being  mined  from  the  lower 
levels.  The  ledge  has  a  northwest-southeast  strike  and  dips 
steeply  to  northeast.  Development  work  in  the  Afterthought 
ha.s  been  greatly  increased  and  systematized  under  the  present 
management.  The  main  working  or  adit  tunnel  extends  3000 
feet  into  the  hill,  intercepting  the  shaft  which  is  330  feet 
above  this  level  and  194  feet  below  it,  and  is  still  being  sunk. 

All  stopes  and  levels  are  connected  with  shoots  and  upraises, 
so  that  gravity  trams  the  ore  from  the  various  levels  to  bins 
on  the  tunnel  level.  In  stoping  the  square  set  timbering 
system  is  employed,  the  timbers  for  which  arc  furnished  by 
the  Terry  Lumber  Company,  whose  famous  30-mile  V-flume 
pa.sses  directly  in  front  of  the  mine.  The  depth  of  the  shaft 
is  545  feet,  the  aggregate  tunnel  development  reaches  2555 
feet,  and  the  total  of  the  drifts  is  4000  feet,  a  summary  which 
does  not  include  several  upraises,  winzes  and  crosscuts.  All 
of  this  work,  with  that  in  the  smelter,  is  yielding  employment 
to  200  men.  The  ore  is  extremely  refractory,  containing  in  its 
mineral  content  high  percentages  of  zinc  and  barium.  Gold 
and  silver  in  the  content  greatly  enhance  the  commercial  value 
of  the  ore,  but  at  present  no  attempt  is  made  to  recover  the 
zinc  occurring  as  the  sulphide  (sphalerite).  Copper  sulphurets 
are  essentially  in  the  form  of  peacock  ore,  or  bornite,  and 
copper-pyrite,  or  chalcopj'rite.  The  ore  is  sufficiently  silicious 
to  eliminate  the  necessity  of  smelting  any  barren  material  with 
the  exception  of  limestone,  and  this  quantity  is  minimized  by 
lime  in  the  ore.  The  lime  rock  is  transported  two  and  a  half 
miles  by  team,  stored  in  large  bins  on  the  sidehill  near  the 
mine,  and  drawn  off  into  ore  cars  as  it  is  needed  at  the  smelter. 

Immen.se  bodies  of  the  ore  are  so  heavy  in  zinc  that  the  com- 
pany is  installing  a  hand-picking  belt  with  an  idea  of  picking 
out  the  zinc  and  waste.  This  will  produce  two  very  important 
economic  results,  namely,  the  recovery  of  the  zinc,  which  has 
heretofore  been  lost  in  volatilization,  and  a  material  reduction 
in  the  refractoriness  of  the  ore,  thereby  lessening  the  percent- 
age of  coke  in  the  charge  as  well  as  minimizing  the  tendency 
of  the  furnaces  to  freeze.  This  class  of  ore  will  first  pass 
through  a  1-inch  revolving  bar  screen.     The  coarse  or  oversize 


104 


THE  COPPER  RESOURCES  OF  CALIFORNIA. 


will  then  be  directly  fed  to  a  15  by  30-inch  Blake  crusher, 
and  thence  on  to  the  belt  conveyor  discharging  into  bins  above 
the  trades  in  the  smelter  yard.  As  the  belt  conveys  the  ore 
to  the  bins  the  waste  will  be  picked  out  and  discarded,  and 
the  zinc  will  be  sorted  and  stored  for  shipment  or  treatment 
as  the  company  may  plan.     The  ore  in  the  liins.  together  witli 


Co/>DCr  Jft'ii 


Jifferlkou<jh^ 


SECTION   THROUGH   COPPER   HII>I.   AND   AFTERTHOUGHT 
CLAIMS,    SHASTA   COUNTY.* 

the  fines  from  the  screenings,  will  be  smelted.  Of  course,  this 
method  of  treatment  nuiy  be  varied  somewhat  to  comply  with 
the  varying  character  of  the  ore.  Connecting  the  main  work- 
ing tunnel  of  the  mine  and  the  smelter,  about  one  mile  apart, 
is  a  30-inch  gauge  railroad,  equipped  with  Davenport  steam 
locomotives.  Each  train  of  about  12  cars  represents  a  lot  of 
homogeneous  ore.  Lots  of  different  character  are  dumped  at 
the  smelter  from  high  trestles  in  layers  so  as  to  make  a  mixture 
ready  for  smelting,  thus  approximating  the  bedding  system. 

*  Bv  J.  Knittschnitt.  Jr. 


SHASTA   COUNTY — COPPER   MIXES   AND  CLAIMS.  105 

On*  from  the  bins.  foll(t\v'm«r  the  ('nisliiii<r  aiul  /iiu*  sorting 
trcatnit'iit.  will  !)»'  tlinnpcd  in  layers  on  the  same  mixture. 
However,  previou.s  to  dumping'  at  the  smelter  yard,  each  ear 
in  a  lot  of  ore  is  carefidly  sampled,  and  twice  a  month,  or 
oftener.  each  Ittt  is  niii  tiiron<rh  a  Wfll-e(|uipped  sampling'  mill 
(adjoining'  the  smelter)  and  subsecpiently  assayed.  One  30- 
hoi'sei)ower  motor  drives  one  crusher,  two  sets  of  rolls,  two 
automatic  samplers,  and  (»ne  sample  ;:rinder.  which  con.stitute 
a  sampliuiT  equipment  capable  of  accurate  and  etlficient  results. 
Th»»  smelter,  as  the  illustration  shows,  is  situated  near  Cow 
Creek,  with  the  hills  risinir  steeply  in  the  rear.  I'p  this  incline 
the  Hue  is  led  to  the  tall  .stack.  One  42  l)y  loO-inch  water- 
jacketed  blast  furiuice  havini;  a  capacity  of  250  tons  burden 
is  in  constant  operation.  Next  to  this  is  the  old.  or  oriirinal. 
40  by  9()-inch  furnace. 

The  power  house  for  the  smelter  involves  the  use  of  three 
motoi's  a.ir.irre.iratinf;  265  horsepower,  which  drive  a  No.  5 
Connei-svillf  lilowcr.  a  No.  ti  (Ireen  ])lower.  and  ;i  Xo.  8  Con- 
nersville  l)lower.  The  installation  of  the  last  mentioned  blower 
increa.ses  the  blower  capacity  suflficiently  to  readily  respond  to 
the  demand  of  an  additioiuil  42  by  18()-inch  blast  furnace 
liavinjr  a  capacity  of  over  300  tons  burden ;  at  present  the  matte 
is  teamed  to  Bella  Vista,  a  distance  of  about  twelve  miles,  where 
it  is  then  shipped  l)y  rail  to  the  United  States  Smelting:  and 
Refininu'  Company,  at  Salt  Lake  City.  Here  it  is  converted 
into  blister  copper.  The  mine  and  smelter  are  operated  and 
li.L'hted  by  the  electricity  furnished  l)y  the  Northern  California 
Power  Company.  This^  company  operates  several  creneratin": 
stations  and  transmission  lines,  two  of  wliidi  are  connected 
with  the  Afterthou<;ht  mine  and  smelter.  This  insures  con- 
stant service  at  all  times.  A  ditference  of  potential  on  the 
main  line  of  22.0()()  volts  is  .stepped  down  to  2200  and  450  at 
the  traiLsformer  station.  The  initial  voltajre  has  recently  been 
inerea.sed  by  the  .Xorthern  California  Power  Company  to 
35,000  volts.  A  w;iter  tank,  capacity  of  40,000  orallons.  in 
conjunction  with  an  electrically  operated  pump  for  constant 
duty  and  alternate  steam  pump,  is  maintained  for  fire 
exigencies. 

Donkey  Mine. — Tlie  Donkey  mine,  consisting  of  two  pat- 
ented claims,  located  in  section  11.  township  33  north,  range 


106  THE  COF^PER  RESOURCES  OP  CALIFORNIA. 

2  west,  is  the  property  of  the  Western  Zinc  ^Mining  Company, 
of  San  Francisco,  with  offices  in  the  French-American  Bank. 
Mr.  C.  D.  Maze  is  the  company's  manager.  In  addition  to  this 
property  the  company  owns  the  Silverado  mine,  at  Orange, 
fifty  miles  from  Los  Angeles.  It  is  reported  that  the  ores  of 
these  two  properties  are  very  similar  in  character  and  compo- 
sition. The  Donkey  mine  is  an  old  one,  but  has  lain  dormant 
during  the  majority  of  its  existence.  The  Western  Zinc  Com- 
pany acquired  control  of  these  claims,  unwatered  the  workings, 
retimbered  the  shaft  and  prepared  to  develop  extensively.  Elec- 
tric power  can  be  readily  secured  from  the  22,000  volts  trans- 
mission line  of  the  Xortliern  California  Power  Company,  which 
is  within  a  few  hundred  yards  from  the  shaft.  The  depth  of 
this  shaft  is  200  feet,  and  a  drift  of  125  feet  extends  towards 
the  ledge.  The  ore  is  rather  of  complex  composition,  carrying 
copper,  gold,  silver,  lead,  and  zinc  in  appreciable  quantities. 
The  ore  is  treated  at  the  Reynolds  Chemical  Works,  also 
property  of  the  Western  Zinc  Company,  and  located  at  South 
San  Francisco.  The  capacity  of  the  reduction  works  is  15 
tons  per  day.  Here  the  zinc  is  reduced  as  a  chloride  and  the 
other  metals  are  then  recovered.  Copper  sulphides  form  by 
far  the  greatest  bulk  of  the  mineral  contents  of  the  ore. 
Arrangements  are  under  way  to  ship  12  to  15  tons  of  assorted 
ore  by  teams  to  Bella  Vista.  Avhenee  it  will  be  transported  by 
rail  to  the  Reynolds  Chemical  Reduction  Works.  This  ore 
body  is  but  one  and  a  half  miles  from  the  Afterthought 
mine,  and  the  character  and  general  trend  of  the  deposits, 
together  with  the  nature  of  the  enclosing  country  formations, 
are  indications  that  the  Donkey  mine  is  probalily  located  on  an 
extension  of  the  Afterthought  ledge. 

The  Rising  Star  Mine  of  the  Bully  Hill  Copper  INIining  and 
Smelting  Company,  acquired  between  1900  and  1901,  was 
originally  the  Baxter- Winthrop  group  in  sections  21  and  28, 
about  1600  feet  from  the  shaft  of  the  Bully  Hill  mine.  An 
18-inch  tram  connects  this  part  of  the  property  with  the 
smelter.  Large,  high-grade  ore  bodies  are  being  exposed  by 
development  work,  which  is  systematically  pursued  throughout 
the  mine.  The  Rising  Star,  it  is  reported,  approximates 
100,000  tons  of  proved  ore  of  a  massive  sulphide  character, 
with  the  further  extent  of  the  ore  bodies  yet  to  be  fully  deter- 


SHASTA   COUNTY— COPPER   MINES  AND  CLAIMS.  10  ( 

miiiod.     The  deposits  i.L'  tliis  mine  differ  from  those  of  the 
liullv  Hill  mine  in  that  they  are  very  irrejrular  in  outline,  a 
condition  likelv  due  to  the  zones  of  cross-shearing'  which  are 
extremely  pronounced  througjh  the  workings.     A  considerable 
amount  of  water  carryin-  the  soluble  salts  of  copper  issues 
from  the  main  tunnel.     Tliis  solution  is  led  to  a  system  of 
parallel  inclined  launders,  laden  with  old  pipe  and  bar  scrap 
iron  arranged  riffle  fashion,  the  agitating  effect  thereby  pro- 
duced having  noticeably  hastened  complete  precipitation.     At 
the  end  of  these  launders  are  settling  tanks  which  catch  the 
slimes,  aggregating  some  1300  pounds  per  month,  and  assaying 
from  So'per  cent  to  50  per  cent  copper.     A  new  head  frame 
has  just  been  completed  over  the  three  compartment  shaft 
connecting  the   lower   levels.     Here   a   double   drum   electric 
hoist  is  installed.     A  wide,  high  tunnel  with  a  V->  per  cent 
grade  is  being  driven  into  Iho  liill  to  connect  the  shaft  250  feet 
below  the  surface. 

The  Copper  City  Mine  of  the  Bully  Hill  Copper  Mining 
Mild  Smelting  Company  consists  of  four  claims,  and  was 
formerlv  the  Copper  City  group,  comprising  the  E.xcelsior. 
Brown.  Humboldt,  and  Baxter  claims.  Here  development  work 
is  being  carried  on  along  the  same  lines  as  the  Bully  Hill  and 
Ri.sing  Star  mines  with  equally  satisfying  results.  The  ores 
of  thFs  mine  are  high  grade,  carrying  gold  and  silver  values 
and  high  percentages  of  zinc  in  parts.  Though  the  mineral 
exposition  is  extensive  and  high  grade,  the  mine  is  a  compara- 
tively shallow  one.  and  it  is  more  than  reasonal)le  to  suppose 
that  the  ore  bodies  now  extending  upward  will  be  found,  on 
sinking,  to  gain  depth  with  similar  consistency.  The  standard 
gauge  railroad  to  Pitt  passes  directly  througli  this  prope_rijL 

Schmidt's  Claim.— One  claim  near  the  Kosk  Creek  group; 
owned  by  Charles  Schmidt.  Some  work  has  been  done,  show- 
ing sulphide  ore.    The  vein  is  said  to  be  10  feet  in  width. 

Chattadown  Group.— Consists  of  an  uncertain  number  of 
claims  situated  near  the  headwaters  of  Chattadown  Creek, 
some  twenty  miles  north  of  Baird,  east  of  the  :\rcCloud  River ; 
owned  by  Edward  Sweeney,  Reed  Bemis,  and  others.  Some 
showing  of  gossan  on  surface  and  some  work  done  showing 
sulphides,  etc. 


108  THE  COPPER  RESOURCES  OF  CALIFORXIA. 

Kosk  Creek  Group. — Consists  of  twelve  claims  situated  in 
section  23,  township  37  north,  ran^^e  1  west,  a  number  of  miles 
north  of  the  copper  belt;  owned  by  William  ]\I.  Murray.  R.  .M. 
Saeltzer,  and  others.  Bonded  by  W.  G.  Scott  and  associates  of 
San  Francisco.  This  ^rroup  is  especially  interesting:,  from  the 
fact  that  the  ore  is  a  dark  basaltic  rock  carrying:  native  copper. 
The  copper  occurs  in  globules  and  films  in  the  joints  and  vesicles 
of  the  rock.  The  ore  is  said  to  carry  some  gokl.  The  zone  of 
rock  carrying  copper  is  said  to  have  a  width  of  200  feet. 
Native  metal  occurs  only  near  the  surface ;  with  greater  depth, 
sulphides  are  found.     . 

Hartford  Group. — Consists  of  ten  claims  three  miles  north 
of  the  mouth  of  Protem  Creek,  Shasta  County;  owned  by  the 
Hartford  Consolidated  ^Mining  Company,  Wm.  Geary  presi- 
dent and  J.  B.  Gitfen  secretary.  More  than  400  feet  of  tunnels 
have  been  completed,  proving  some  good  sulphide  ore,  but  at 
present  only  in  limited  quantity.  The  lode  is  said  to  have  a 
width  of  8  feet  or  more,  and  to  appear  along  the  surface  for  a 
distance  of  more  than  100  feet.  The  surface  ores  are  oxides 
and  carbonates. 

Cowboy  Group. — Consists  of  three  claims  in  section  4. 
township  S'S  north,  range  2  west ;  owned  by  II.  A.  Cook  et  al.. 
San  Francisco.  This  property  has  good  surface  indications. 
Over  200  feet  of  tunnels  have  been  completed,  and  good 
sulphide  ore  has  been  found.  The  property  includes,  in  addi- 
tion to  the  claims  above  mentioned,  160  acres  of  land  in  section 
9  of  the  same  township. 

Black  Diamond  Group. — The  Black  Diamond  group,  con- 
sisting of  a  half  section  of  land  and  eighteen  claims  located  in 
sections  2  and  3.  township  33  north,  range  4  west,  in  the  Still- 
water mining  district,  is  the  property  of  the  Northern  Cali- 
fornia Investment  Company.  A  great  deal  of  development 
work  has  been  done,  but  the  ground  is  as  yet  in  a  practically 
undeveloped  condition.  A  body  of  ore  of  a  reported  value  of 
8  per  cent  copper  was  encountered.  In  addition  to  the  Black 
Diamond  holdings,  the  company  holds  between  4000  and  oOUU 
acres  of  patented  land  located  in  the  Bully  Hill  region  and  in 
the  district  to  the  southeast.  George  Bayha.  the  vice-president 
of  the  company,  is  in  charge  of  the  property. 


SHASTA    f'OrXTV ("OI'PKR    MINKS    ANM)   CLAIMS.  1(»!) 

Roseman  Group. — The  KosiMiiaii  jirroup  consists  of  nine 
claiiiis  and  a  snioltor  site.  located  in  section  ."5.  towiisliip  Mi 
north,  and  section  84.  low  iisliip  iU  noi-lli.  i-an<re  4  west.  The 
ore  is  a  cai'honatc  and  oxide  iicai"  Ihc  surface,  chan^nuL:  1<i 
sulphide  with  dcplli.  'I'hc  formation  has  nothin^r  in  coniiiion 
with  either  the  West  Side  di.strict  or  that  of  liully  Hill.  The 
ore  occurs  in  or  neai-  the  lime  deposit,  the  foot  wall  ap|)arcntly 
l)ein<r  in  ser|>entini'.  The  development  is  maiidy  alon^-  the 
(Mitcrop  and  the  <i:reatest  depth  on  the  vein  attains  al)out  GO 
feet.  The  main  cro.sscnt  from  the  foot  wall  toward  the  hanging 
wall  is  in  5;")  feet.  At  aimtliei-  point  a  4()-foot  crosscut  has  been 
driven  tnward  the  lianuiii^  wall,  hut  neither  opeiiinL:  has  dis- 
closed the  vein  as  yet.  The  vein  matter  tlu'oui:li  which  these 
openings  extend  is  well  mineralized.  In  the  aggregate  700  feet 
of  tunnel  and  200  feet  of  shafts  ami  winzes  constitute  the 
development  work.  A  lower  crosscut  has  been  started  which 
will  provide  400  feet  of  depth.  The  objective  point  is  600  feet 
in.  and  of  this  120  feet  has  been  completed.  11.  Koseman  et  al., 
of  Redding,  owners. 

Jaegel. — Consists  of  seven  claims  in  section  3.  township 
3.}  north,  i-anu'c  4  west;  owned  ])v  Josej))!  Jaegel. 

Memorial. — Eleven  claims  of  nnpatcnted  ground  in  sec- 
tions IT)  and  22.  town.ship  33  north,  range  4  west;  owned  chiefly 
b\'  II.  .M.  Ij(d5aron  and  others,  of  IJedding.  Some  sulphide 
ore   has  l)(,'en   found. 

Michigan  Group.— The  :\lichigan  group  of  mines,  consist- 
ing of  si.\  claims  adjoining  the  Recorder  claim  of  the  .MeClure 
grouj)  on  the  south  and  we>t  and  De  La  Mar's  property  on  the 
west.  \\;'s  ac(piired  by  the  Mount  Shasta  (Jold  IMines  Corpora- 
tion, and  will  he  developed  with  the  .McClure  group.  This 
ground  is  located  mainly  on  the  south  and  west  slopes  of  Hully 
Hill  and  is  crossed  by  one  of  the  Hully  Hill  lodes.  The  ])rin- 
cil)al  outcrop  of  the  Bully  Hill  lodes  is  on  the  common  end  line 
of  the  Recorder  and  the  Ydalpom  claims,  the  latter  being  one 
of  the  claims  that  form  the  Michigan  group.  The  development 
work  consists  chiefly  of  tunnels  and  drifts.  Some  very  high- 
urade  ore  has  been  encountered  in  the  woi'kings.  A  shaft  sunk 
on  the  North  Star  claim  disclosed  some  very  good  sulphide  ore. 
The  Mount  Shasta  Gold  !\lines  Corporation  acquired  an  option 


110  THE  COPPER  RESOURCES  OF  CALIFORNIA. 

on  80  acres  of  land  adjoining  the  Bully  Hill  smelter  site,  which 
will  probably  be  used  as  a  site  for  the  proposed  reduction 
works  in  the  Bully  Hill  district.  W.  F.  Russell  is  in  charge 
of  developments. 

Northern  Light. — One  claim,  unpatented,  in  section  21, 
township  34  north,  range  3  west ;  owned  by  the  Bully  Hill 
Company.  Considerable  development  work  has  been  done  on 
this  ground,  and  good  bodies  of  sulphide  ores  similar  in  char- 
acter to  other  deposits  in  this  district  have  been  discovered. 

Excelsior. — A  group  of  five  claims,  two  of  which  are  pat- 
ented, located  in  sections  21  and  28,  township  34  north,  range 
3  west ;  owned  by  the  Bully  Hill  Gold  ^Mining  and  Smelting 
Company.  A  considerable  force  of  men  was  employed  in 
development  work  upon  the  Excelsior,  South  Killinger,  and 
Baxter  claims,  including  what  are  known  as  the  Baxter  and 
Winthrop  tunnels.  The  lowest  tunnel  is  the  Winthrop,  which 
has  been  driven  for  a  distance  of  850  feet,  and  it  is  expected 
that  it  will  crosscut  the  Baxter-Excelsior  ore  bodies.  In  the 
Excelsior  tunnels  a  body  of  solid  sulphide  ore  has  been  exposed 
more  than  20  feet  in  thickness,  but  probably  high  in  its  per- 
centage of  zinc. 

Arps  Group. — It  consists  of  fifteen  unpatented  claims 
owned  by  R.  M.  Saeltzer,  William  Arps,  T.  Jaegel,  and  J.  A. 
Keeney,  of  Redding.  W.  Arps,  after  whom  the  group  was 
named,  is  in  charge  of  the  property  at  Copper  City,  which  is 
located  in  sections  20  and  21,  township  34  north,  range  4  west, 
adjoining  the  Copper  City  mine  of  the  Bully  Hill  Copper 
Mining  and  Smelting  Company.  Five  or  six  tunnels  have 
been  driven,  directed  largely  to  surface  exploration,  though 
they  yielded  a  shipment  of  ore  running  high  in  values.  The 
property  is  being  developed  under  bond  by  W.  E.  Casson,  of 
Nevada. 

McClure,  or  Pioneer,  Group. — This  property  is  located 
principally  in  section  1().  township  34  uortli,  range  3  west,  and 
adjoins  the  De  La  Mar  mine  on  the  northeast.  It  includes  a 
quarter  section  of  patented  land  and  six  claims.  The  most 
important  claim,  the  Recorder,  lies  on  Bully  Hill  immediately 
adjoining  the  De  La  Mar  holdings,  and  is  on  the  strike  of 
the  De  La  Mar  lode.    The  development  work  on  several  levels 


SHASTA   COUNTY — COPPER   MINES  AND  CLAIMS.  Ill 

of  De  La  ^Nlar's  Bully  Hill  mines  has  been  carried  practically 
to  the  Recorder  claim.  The  principal  development  work  ou 
the  Recorder  claim  consists  of  a  crosscut  tunnel  which  was 
started  by  the  pioneer  owner  of  the  property,  II.  C.  ]\IcClure, 
and  this  tunnel  has  been  continued  by  the  ]\Iount  Shasta  Gold 
]\Iines  Corporation,  which  is  now  developing  the  mine.  Ore 
has  been  reached  in  this  tunnel.  The  ore,  like  that  of  its 
famous  neighbor,  is  higli  grade  and  carries  good  values  in  gold, 
silver,  and  copper.  Where  the  outcrop  crosses  the  ^IcClure 
ground,  recent  explorations  have  disclosed  a  lode  of  great 
width. 

Ydalpom. — Consists  of  two  unpatented  claims  in  section 
16,  township  34  north,  range  3  west ;  owned  by  T.  M.  Popejoy 
and  others  of  Copper  City. 

INGOT. 

Polkinghorn  Claims. — Five  claims  pending  patent,  owned 
by  tlie  Polkingliorn  Mining  Company,  with  post  office  address 
at  Ingot.  R.  Polkinghorn  is  superintending  the  development 
of  this  property.  A  shaft  is  being  sunk  on  the  croppings. 
This  property  is  located  in  section  11,  township  33  north,  range 
2  west. 

Canyon  Group. — Four  unpatented  claims  in  section  2, 
township  33  north,  range  2  west;  owned  by  H.  A.  Cook  and 
]\r.  Osborn,  of  Ingot.  A  70-foot  prospect  tunnel  has  been  run 
under  gossan  croppings,  a  little  copper  pyrite  being  encoun- 
tered. 

Congress  Group. — Six  unpatented  claims  in  section  4, 
township  33  north,  range  2  west;  H.  A.  Cook  and  brothers,  of 
Ingot,  are  owners.  A  series  of  exploration  tunnels  aggre- 
gating 430  feet  have  been  run,  but  no  great  depth  below 
croppings  has  yet  been  reached. 

Gold  Belt  Group. — Six  claims  pending  patent,  in  section  4, 
towusliij)  33  north,  range  2  west,  belonging  to  J.  H.  Jones  and 
A.  II.  Tucker,  of  Ingot.  A  shaft  down  30  feet  penetrated  about 
f)  feet  of  iron  capping,  below  which  a  schistose  and  slaty 
formation  was  encountered  carrying  copper  sulphurets  with 
traces  of  zinc,  gold,  and  silver. 


112  THE  COPPER  RESOURCES  OF  CiVLIFORNIA. 

Sanders  Group. — Five  unpatented  claims  in  section  21, 
township  34  north,  ranjre  4  west;  owned  by  William  Arps, 
K.  ^I.  Saelt/.er,  and  otliers  of  Reckling.  This  property  adjoins 
the  Rising-  Star  mine  of  the  Bully  Hill  Copper  jNlining  and 
Smelting-  Company,  and  was  under  bond  to  a  Nevada  company 
headed  by  W.  E.  Casson.  Tunnels  of  a  prospective  nature  have 
been  i-un  ticai-  Ihe  surface.  Sinking  to  encounter  ore  at  depth 
has  been  planned. 

Slaughter  Group. — Four  unpatented  claims  in  section  26, 
township  :U  north,  range  3  west;  owned  by  George  T. 
Slaughter,  of  Dehnar.  A  70-foot  tunnel  was  run  into  side  of 
hill  to  tap  ledge,  which  apexes  about  30  feet  wide,  with  a 
northeast-southwest  strike. 

Horse  Mountain  Group. — Nine  unpatented  claims  owned 
by  W.  Fluke  and  Carl  Jeris,  of  Copper  City.  This  property 
is  situated  near  the  crest  of  Horse  Mountain,  in  section  18, 
township  34  north,  range  3  west.  Assessment  work  alone  has 
been  done.  A  very  interesting  deposit  of  native  copper  dis- 
seminated through  a  meta-rhyolite  is  exposed  on  the  surface. 

Bismarck  Group. — Located  in  section  3,  township  33  north, 
range  4  west,  and  consists  of  six  unpatented  claims;  owned  by 
Joseph  Jaegel.  of  Grey  Rocks.  A  niim])er  of  tunnels  have  been 
driven  and  some  shafts  sunk  in  developing  this  property. 
Small  amounts  of  copper  sulphides  have  ])een  disclosed. 

American  Girl  Group. — A  group  of  three  unpatented  claims 
in  section  34,  township  33  north,  range  4  west,  belonging  to 
W.  Fluke,  Ira  P.  Engle,  James  Doyle,  and  Alec  Han.sen,  of 
Copper  City.  Tlie  mineralized  formation  outcrops,  and  is 
reported  to  \  ichi  a  very  favorabk^  assay  for  copper.  The 
ju-operty  is  abt)ut  four  miles  west  of  Copper  City. 

Senator  Group. — Located  in  section  2,  township  33  north, 
range  4  west,  about  five  miles  from  Copixu'  City  on  Pitt 
River,  is  this  group  of  fourteen  unpatented  claims;  owned 
and  developed  l)y  the  Combination  (iold  and  Copper  Company 
of  Nevada.  James  T.  Davis,  of  Carson  City,  is  the  company's 
managing  director;  450  feet  of  tunnels  represent  development 
work  on  this  property. 


SHASTA    COUNTY — COPPER    MINES    AND    CLAIMS.  113 

Sulphide  Group.— Four  unpatented  claims  belonging  to 
J.  F.  ConkliuL;-.  of  Wliiskeytown.  This  property,  about  lialf 
a  mile  from  the  town,  is  in  s«-ftion  16,  township  32  north,  range 
(j  west.  .\  shallow  exploration  tunnel  run  along  a  coutaet 
shows  lip  low-grade  sulphides  carrying  gold. 

Reno  Group.— Fourteen  unpatented  claims;  owned  by 
K.  y\.  Saeltzer.  AVilliam  Arps.  J.  Jaegel.  and  J.  A.  Keeney,  of 
Redding,  and  situated  in  section  20,  township  34  north,  range 
4  west.  Some  shafts  and  tiuuiels  have  been  run  as  iissessment 
work.  A  little  copper  ore  uncovered  during  this  development. 
William  .\r])s.  of  Copper  City,  is  in  charge  of  the  property. 

Crystal  Group.— Owned  by  the  Crystal  Copper  Company; 
\V.  S.  Tyler,  president;  J.  C.  Harrington,  vice-president:  -I.  L. 
Maginnis,  secretary  and  treasurer.  This  property  consists  of 
twenty-three  unpatented  claims  in  section  11.  townshij)  33 
north,  range  (i  west,  adjoining  the  Balaklala  on  the  north  and 
llit>  Vulcan  claims  on  the  west.  Development  l)y  tunnels  aggre- 
trates  2()()  feet.  The  company  expects  to  explore  its  locations 
by  the  use  of  diamond  drills. 

Endless  Chain  and  Missing  Link  Claims. — Two  unpatented 
claims:  owned  and  being  i^rospected  by  F.  L.  i'opejoy  and 
James  Drannan.  of  Copper  City.  The  exph)ration  of  this 
property  consists  of  two  30-foot  tunnels.  The  location  is  about 
3  miles  west  of  Copper  City,  in  section  24.  lownship  34  north, 
range  4  west. 

Graham  Group. — Nine  unpatented  claims;  owned  and 
worked  1>\  P..  A.  (Jraham.  in  section  24.  township  34  north, 
range  4  west.  Post  office  address.  Ydalpom  or  Copper  City. 
A  series  of  prospect  tunnels  aggregating  240  feet,  a  .shaft  74 
feet,  and  a  drift  5.')  feet  indicate  what  development  w^ork  has 
been  accomplished.  This  property  was  under  bond  to  W.  E. 
Casson.  of  Nevada. 

Oregon  Consolidated  Copper  Mine.— This  property  is  com- 
po.sed  of  two  groups  previously  known  as  the  United  and 
Queen  Copper  groups,  in  sections  13.  14,  and  23,  township  33 
north,  range  fi  west.  The  locations  are  owned  and  operated 
by  F.  L.  Scamman.  W.  R.  Follis.  and  William  Candrick.  the 

8— BuL.  50 


114  THE  COPPER  RESOURCES  OF  CALIFORNIA. 

latter  of  whom  is  in  eliarge  of  the  work.  Al)oiit  1200  feet  in 
tunnels  comprise  tlie  development  work,  wliicli  is  undergoing 
a  steady  inerease.  The  mine  w.is  under  bond  to  the  Baker 
Consolid;it('{l  ("()|)j)er  Company,  of  Detroit,  ^Micli. 

Reynolds  Claims. — Five  unpatented  claims  in  section  10, 
township  33  nortli,  range  6  west;  owned  by  C.  W.  Reynolds, 
of  Kennet.  This  property,  newly  located,  adjoins  the  Halaklala 
(111  the  north. 

Varsity  Group. — Eight  unpatented  claims  in  sections  13, 
1-t,  and  24,  township  34  north,  range  5  west;  owned  by  C  T. 
Dozier  and  C.  V.  Dittmar,  of  Redding  and  Kennet,  respectively. 
Tlie  i)roperty  is  two  and  a  half  miles  due  south  of  Kennet. 

The  Copper  Crest  Group  of  four  claims  in  township  33 
north,  range  (i  west,  is  owned  by  the  Federal  Exploration  Com- 
pany, No.  370  Bullit  building,  Philatlelphia.  It  ad.joins  the 
Manmioth  property,  and  shows  some  gossan  on  which  an  incline 
has  been  started. 

About  one  and  a  half  miles  north  of  Kennet  in  the  copper 
belt,  where  it  has  assumed  an  eastern  course  before  crossing 
the  Sacramento  River,  lies  tlie  Shasta  Kennet  Group,  con- 
taining 80  acres,  with  about  700  feet  of  workings.  The  face 
of  the  main  tunnel,  470  feet  long,  shows  vein  matter  with 
some  iron  and  copper  sulphides.  It  belongs  to  the  Shasta  INIay 
Blossom  Copper  Company,  ulliee  No.  410  Kearny  street,  San 
Francisco. 

The  Ingersoll  Group  consists  of  fourteen  non-patented 
claims  on  the  south  fork  of  ^lotion  Creek,  in  township  33 
north,  range  6  west  (railroad  section  25),  adjoining  the  Trinity 
Copper  Company's  property.  Some  heavy  gossan  outcrops 
are  found,  and  the  two  tunnels  of  180  and  135  feet  show  con- 
siderable iron  and  copper  sulphides.  A  tunnel  of  165  feet  has 
been  run  on  a  quartz  vein  carrying  gold  and  a  little  copper. 
Owner,  J.  N.  Sherman,  Copley. 

The  Motion  Creek  Group  (Ui  llie  north  fork  of  Motion 
(reek,  township  33  north,  range  H  west,  sections  13.  18,  19, 
and  25,  partly  railroad  land,  adjoining  the  Spread  Eagle 
group,  consists  of  ten  non-patented  claims,  with  surface  indi- 
cations similar  to  the  j>reeedinL;'  grouj),  and  two  tunnels. 


COAST  RANGE  DEPOSITS. 


The  Coast  Ran^'o  of  California  presents  a  copper  field  of 
very  lar<j:e  area,  but  one  that,  through  lack  of  exploration, 
development,  and  production,  is  of  minor  present  importance 
compared  witii  the  copper  belts  of  Shasta  County  and  the 
Sierra  Nevada  foothills.  The  Coast  Range  (properly  the  Coast 
Ranges)  of  California  consists  of  a  group,  or  series,  of  ranges 
stretching  for  over  500  miles  southward  from  Oregon  along 
the  coast  of  the  State  and  having  an  average  width  of  about 
forty  miles.  Toj^ographically  the  Coast  Range  is  relatively 
low.  is  made  up  of  ranges  of  diverse  trend.  jiikI  it  incloses 
numerous  valleys,  the  most  important  ones  being  those  in  the 
general  region  of  San  Francisco  Bay,  which  are  among  the 
famed  garden  spots  of  California.  Lying  near  the  coast,  with 
the  ])roadest  general  slope  toward  the  sea.  and  with  a  compara- 
tively low  elevation  (2000  to  6000  feet),  the  range  posses.ses  a 
mild  clinuite  and  receives  on  the  direct  Pacific  watershed  a 
copious  rainfall  which  bestows  an  abundant  water  supply  and 
heavy  forest  growths.  The  Coast  Range  merges  with  the 
Sierra  Nevada  in  northern  California  and  in  the  Tehachapi 
regions  at  the  south. 

TIk;  copper  deposits,  as  well  as  those  of  other  economic 
minerals,  are  found  scattered  over  the  lengtli  niul  bi-cadth  of 
the  range.  They  are  nnich  more  numerous  and  generally  of 
larger  magnitude  north  of  the  Bay  of  San  Francisco,  and  they 
are  of  greatest  number  and  importance  in  the  large  northern 
region  comprising  Siskiyou.  Del  Norte,  and  Trinity  counties, 
whicli  require  main  attention  in  connection  w'ith  the  copper, 
as  well  as  the  gold,  resources  of  the  Coast  Range. 

Where  the  Sacramento  Valley  wedges  its  narrow  nortliern 
end  into  the  bi-oad  mountain  mass  created  liy  tlic  mergence  of 
the  Sierra  Nevada  and  Coast  Ranges  is  found  the  Sliasta 
County  copper  belt.  Because  of  the  individuality  of  this  belt, 
and  its  overshadowing  importance  as  a  copper  producer, 
Shasta   County    is    in    this   work   set    apart    from    the    cojiper 


IK)  TIIK  COPPER  RESOIRfES  OF  CALIFORNIA. 

regions  adjoiniiiy  it  ou  the  east,  north,  and  west,  though  geo- 
graphieally  and  topographically  it  belongs  with  Siskiyou 
County  to  the  nortli.  All  otlier  copper  deposits  in  nortli- 
eentral  California  are  here  grouped  as  of  the  Coast  Range. 

To  gain  a  brief  general  view  of  this  wide  nortlicrn  copper 
field,  we  may  go  northward  from  the  Shasta  County  copper 
belt  along  the  Sacramento  River  canyon  and  the  railroad  line 
to  Oregon  for  thirty  miles  to  the  southern  l)ouudary  of  Sis- 
kiyou County,   finding  but  few  scattered  copper  occurrences 
through  all  this  upper  portion  of  Shasta  County.     Pursuing 
this  course  northward,  there   is  encountered  in  southern  Sis- 
kiyou  County,   near   the   western    fiauk   of   ]\Iount    Shasta,    a 
series  of  copper  deposits  ranged  along  a  belt  or  zone  several 
miles  wide,  extending  for  about  fifty  miles  northward  to  the 
State   boundary   along  the   central   line  of   the   county.      The 
majority  of  the  deposits  of   Siskiyou  County  noted  in   this 
Bulletin  are  in  this  belt,  in  townships  6,  7.  and  8  west  and  40 
to  46  north,  but  they  are  most  numerous  in  the  south-central 
portion,  within  a  few  miles  of  ]\Iount  Shasta.    This  belt  is  just 
west  of  the  great  blanketing  lava  sheet  of  northeastern  Cali- 
fornia and  about  70  miles  from  the  coast.    Practically  connect- 
ing with   the  northern   end  of  the  belt  described   is   another 
series  of  copper  deposits  stretching  for  60  miles  or  so  along  the 
Siskiyou   range  and  Klamath   River,   which  course  westward 
along  the  State  boundary  into  Del  Norte  County.     This  series 
of    deposits    constitutes    copper    belts    in    only    the    broadest 
meaning    of    tlie    term,    being    unconnected    occurrences    geo- 
graphically arranged  in  this  manner.     In  these  two  belts  are 
the  chief  known  copper  deposits  of  Siskiyou  County,  though 
copper  is  found  widely  scattered  in  mineral-bearing  districts 
over  the  western  half  of  the  county.     To  the  west  of  Siskiyou, 
Del  Norte  County,   in  the  northwestern  corner  of  the  State, 
presents  a  promising  copper  field.     The  low  divide  district, 
aliout  15  miles  northeast  of  Crescent  City  on  the  coast,  and 
near  the  State  line,   is  the  best   known   district,   and  one   in 
which  a  number  of  mines  were  actively  worked  nearly  forty 
years  ago.     Other  districts  in  the  southern  and  eastern  parts 
of  the  county  have  since  become  prominent  for  their  copper 
prospects. 

The    region    comprising    these    two    counties,    over    which 


COAST    HANCi;    DKI'osns.  117 

copper  Ix'lts  (H-  districts,  .iiul  sporadic  occurrences,  are  tliiis 
scattered,  is.  rouj,dily.  over  100  miles  long  and  jIO  to  60  miles 
wide.  ViewiuiT  the  ])rincipal  deposits  of  the  Coast  Hauyc 
farther  southward  they  may  be  conceived  as  forming  the  stem 
of  a  v'reat.  i-ude  letter  T.  They  lead  southwai'd  fi-om  south- 
eastern Del  Norte  and  southwestern  Siskiyou  along  a  belt 
nearly  100  miles  long,  whicli  follows  the  boundary  line 
between  IIuml)oldt  and  Ti'inif.\'  counties,  through  tlic  hearl 
of  the  range  ami  its  I'cmotc  w  ihlenu^ss.  A  few  groups  of 
deposits  are  found  in  eastern  Humboldt  County,  but  they 
nmiidy  lie  in  the  two  tiers  of  townships  which  stretch  llic 
length  of  western  Trinity  County.  The  outlines  of  this  bii: 
letter  T.  with  a  l)ar  ')0  by  100  miles  in  size,  and  with  a  stem 
100  miles  long  and  perhaps  20  miles  wide,  may,  to  aid  memory 
and  understanding,  be  i-egarded  as  practically  inclosing  the 
copper  deposits  of  tiie  northern  portion  of  the  Coast  Range 
and  the  important  copper  tield  of  the  coast  region.  Tiie 
Shasta  County  coppei-  belt  lies  about  50  miles  east  of  the 
center  of  the  stem  and  directly  south  of  the  easterly  end  of  the 
bar. 

This  (Upi'iferous  T  lies  in  an  undeveloped  mineral  einpii'e 
rich  in  ^old.  tilled  with  uionntain  streams  and  untouciied  for- 
ests, and  befoi'c  it  is  opening  a  great  future,  in  which  the 
mining  iiulusti'\  will  hold  the  IcadiiiL;  place.  Access  to  these 
stores  of  coi)per  is  gained  from  tlie  railroad  to  the  east,  or 
from  the  two  harbors  of  Eureka  and  Crescent  City  to  the 
west,  but  from  neither  side  do  railways  yet  reach  into  these 
rugged  and  forested  fastnesses,  and  main  highways  are  few. 
Only  mountain  trails  lead  into  some  of  the  regions  where 
co])])(r  claims  arc  held  and  slowly  opciu'd  at  the  surface. 
Plans  foi-  a  railroad  from  P^ureka  across  Trinity  County  to 
Bedding  and  on  to  eastern  connections  have  lieen  considered. 
The  Coast  Kange  runs  northward  into  Oregon,  and  the  copper 
region  described  also  extends  into  the  southwestern  part  of 
that  state. 

The  portion  of  the  Coast  Range  thus  described  ditfers  geo- 
logically from  Die  rest  of  the  range  to  the  soutliward.  and  so, 
to  a  considerable  degree,  do  the  copper  deposits.  Here,  as  to 
the  south,  the  ore  bodies  occur  in  veins  in  igneous  or  meta- 
morphic  formations.     In  both  regions  serpentine  and  diorite 


118  THE  COPPER  RESOURCES  OF  CALIFORNIA. 

are  the  characteristic  inclosiug  rocks,  and  the  former  espe- 
cially accompanies  them,  forming  one  or  l)()t]i  walls.  Only 
in  Del  Norte  Connty  has  there  been  more  than  snperficial 
prospecting  of  any  of  the  deposits  of  this  northern  region. 
Quite  a  number  of  mines  in  this  county  shipped  ore  in  the 
first  half  of  the  decade  of  the  sixties,  and  at  least  two  were 
opened  to  depths  of  al)out  -400  feet.  These  developments 
showed  the  ore  bodies.  Mhicli  were  frequently  rich,  to  be 
irregular  l)unches  of  limited  extent,  as  a  rule,  and  not  in  well- 
defined  lodes.  Surface  indications  and  the  slight  develop- 
ments that  have  been,  made  in  Siskiyou,  Trinity,  and  eastern 
Huml)oldt  make  it  probable  that  there  the  deposits  will  be 
found  more  regular  and  persistent.  Wide  gossan  croppings 
can.  in  places,  be  followed  for  several  miles,  but  prospect 
tunnels  have  yet  been  run  under  these  croppings  in  but 
relatively  few  cases.  The  ensuing  notes  on  some  of  these 
prospects  show  that  in  Siskiyou  County  and  elsewhere  tunnels 
have  reached  ore  bodies  from  a  few  feet  to  fort\-  or  more  feet 
wide  and  carrying  good  values  in  copper,  willi  vjii-ying  per- 
centages in  tlie  precious  metals.  One  undeveloped  prospect 
in  the  remote  southwestern  corner  of  Trinity  County  has 
become  noted  for  the  innnense  bowlders  of  sulphide  ore, 
carrying  gold,  silver,  and  copper,  which  have  come  from  an 
outcropping  deposit,  one  of  these  liowlders  lieing  60  feet 
across  the  base  and  consisting  of  several  thousand  tons  of 
solid  ore.  Large  and  valuable  deposits  will  undoubtedly  be 
developed  in  the  future.  The  copper  ores  of  these  northern 
counties  are  practically  all  sidpliides.  Surface  oxides  and 
carbonates  do  not  occur  as  frequently  and  extensively  as 
throughout  tlic  rest  of  the  range  to  the  .southward. 

Sou11iw;ii-(l  from  Ti'inity  County  for  about  !.")()  miles  to  the 
bay  of  San  Francisco,  copper  deposits  are  heterogeneously 
.scattered  over  the  ranges  tlirough  the  western  ends  of  Tehama, 
Glenn,  and  Colusa  counties,  through  ^lendocino  and  Lake 
counties  to  the  west,  and  tlirough  portions  of  Sonoma.  Napa, 
and  Marin  counties  just  north  of  the  bay.  The  majority  of  the 
deposits  through  this  large  region  are  associated  with  serpen- 
tine formations,  and  the  prevalent  ores  are  oxides  and  carbon- 
ates. The  ores  are  generally  in  pockets,  and  carry  but  slight 
values  in   gold  and  silver.     Native  copper  occurs  as  float  in 


COAST    RANGE    DEPOSITS.  ll'J 


Th.- 


several  districts,  but  assumes  no  ])ractit'al  importance, 
only  copjH'r  i»elt  presented  by  this  lar«;e  porlinn  of  ilu-  i-aufje 
is  ono  ()(>  miles  long,  running  along  the  eastern  slo{)e.  near  1hi' 
range  summit,  from  Tehama  County  soutliward  through 
fJlenn  and  Colusa  to  a  termination  in  Lake  County.  This  is  a 
mineralized  zone,  along  which  copper  deposits  have  been  dis- 
covered at  intervals,  and  many  have  l)een  superficially  opened 
by  shafts  and  tunnels.  One  of  the  small  early  attempts  at 
copper  smelting  Mas  made  on  this  belt,  and  a  few  tons  of  ore 
have  been  shipped:  hut.  as  elsewhere  tlirough  this  portion  of 
tlie  range,  no  copper  deposits  of  mucli  importance  have  been 
discovered  and  ii<»  succe.ssful  mining  has  ever  been  carried  on. 
"West  and  south  of  this  belt  are  many  sporadic  occurrences  in 
the  counties  named,  and  a  considerable  number  have  been 
prospected  to  a  limited  extent  at  various  times,  chiefly  during 
the  copper  excitement  of  the  early  sixties  and  within  the  past 
two  or  three  years.  The  deposits  of  this  portion  of  the  range 
are  more  advantageously  situated  in  respect  to  convenience 
of  acce.ss  than  those  of  the  north.  Copper  mining  in  these 
counties  has  amounted  to  little  more  than  gophering  after 
stringers  and  pockets  of  ore,  often  rich  in  (piality,  but  small  in 
quantity. 

For  a  distance  of  about  200  miles  southward  from  the  region 
of  San  Francisco  to  San  Luis  Obispo  County,  copper  minerals 
have  l)een  noted  in  every  county  of  the  range,  but  the  occur- 
rences are  sparse  and  of  slight  significance.  In  the  region  of 
^Fount  I)ial)lo.  in  Contra  Costa  County,  many  thousands  of 
dollars  were  spent  between  1860  and  1866,  by  several  com- 
panies, in  prospecting  for  copper,  of  which  there  were  surface 
indications  in  the  form  of  float,  but  no  deposits  were  ever 
found  in  i)lace.  Close  to  Oakland,  in  Alameda  County,  a 
lode  carrying  copper  and  ii-dii  pyrites  lias  been  mined  to 
supply  sulphur  for  acid  manufacture.  IMany  years  ago 
some  copper  ore  was  shipped  from  a  deposit  in  San 
Benito  County.  The  only  copper  district  worthy  of  particular 
attention,  between  San  Francisco  Bay  and  the  Tehachapi 
region  at  the  southern  end  of  the  Coast  Range,  is  one  in 
San  Luis  Obispo  County.  Here  is  a  belt  of  cupriferous 
ores  extending  for  perhaps  20  miles  through  the  mountains 
between  the  town  of  San  Luis  Obispo  and  the  old  mission  of 


120  THE  COl'l'KK  KESOLKCKS  OF  CALIFORNIA. 

Sjiiit.i  .Margarita.  During  the  first  period  of  copper  mining 
in  California  a  great  many  claims  were  staked  out  and  <'on- 
sideral)le  ore  was  shipped  from  several  mines  of  small  develop- 
ment. Recently  renewed  attention  has  been  given  to  some  of 
these  properties.  Near  Solcdad  Pass,  in  the  general  region  of 
the  mergence  of  the  Coast  and  Sierra  Nevada  ranges  at  the 
south,  there  is  a  copper  district  which  afforded  the  first  copper 
ores  ever  mined  in  California,  and  which  was  a  lively  copper 
mining  camp  for  a  short  time  in  early  days. 

Throughout  the  Coast  Range  there  has  been  no  production 
of  copper  since  the  small  ore  shipments  of  former  times. 
Many  new  and  old  locations  have  been  prospected  recently. 
The  northern  counties  promise  important  future  develop- 
ments, and  throughout  the  range  various  properties  will 
probably  become  small  producers  in  time. 


SISKIYOU  COUNTY. 

Siskiyou  County  lies  along  the  noi'thern  boundary  of  Cali- 
fornia, one  half  tlie  length  of  which  it  measures,  and  has 
adjoining  it  Del  Norte  on  tlie  west.  ^Modoc  on  the  east,  and 
Shasta  and  Trinity  counties  ou  tlie  south.  Its  entire  area  of 
30-iO  s(|uare  miles  is  an  exceedingly  broken  and  picturesque 
expanse  of  mountains,  canyons,  and  wilderness,  threaded  hy  a 
ninllitiide  of  streams  running  southward  1o  the  Sacramento 
and  northci'lN-  and  westerly  to  the  Klamath  I\ivt'i\  whidi 
courses  for  70  miles  through  the  county. 

The  most  prominent  mountain  ranges  are  the  Klamath, 
Scott,  and  Salmon.  IMount  Shasta,  in  the  southern  part,  raises 
its  whitened  volcanic  peak  14,380  feet  above  the  sea.  The 
eastern  third  of  the  county,  comprising  thirty-four  townships, 
is  blanketed  by  a  portion  of  the  great  Sierra  Nevada  lava 
sheet,  forl)idding  lioth  mining  and  agriculture.  The  rest  of 
the  county  displays  much  mineral  wealth,  mainly  concentrated 
in  various  belts  and  districts.  There  are  but  two  agricultural 
valleys  of   importance,  the  Scott  and  Shasta,  the  former  40 


V 


□ 


^ 


SCU/Sr/k  MICA   ■SCHtST 


POfiPHYftV 


S£flPEl>lT/AJ£ 


STATE  MININi:    UCUKAU. 


COPPER    BELT    OF    NORTHERN    SISKIYOU    COUNTY,    CALIFORNIA. 


sisKnoi    corNTV 


1-Jl 


iiiil.'s  luiijr  l)\   ti  miles  \vi«l<'.     'riicrc  is  ;i  limit  it  u<l.'  nl"  springs. 
ami  some  inip«»rtiiiit   iiiincral  spriiiirs  :ir<'  well  known. 

Its  iiiiiH'Piil  rt'soun-cs  coiistitut.-  Iln-  Wasis  of  Siskiyou's  pros- 
pei-itv  Mini  i)roLrn'ss.     Its  auriferous  'j:rav«'ls  still    provide  tlie 
hulk  of  the  county's  u'ojd  output,  thoiiirli  the  period  of  simple 
placer    miniu'r    passed    lou^'    airo.      Alou^'    the    Klamath    and 
important  trihutaries  lar«re  irravel  deposits  support   protitahle 
hydraulie  mines  and  afford  ahundant  opportunitit>s  for  their 
multiplieation.     River-hed  minintr.   hy   the   use  of   \vin«,'dams. 
has  Iteen  pursued  more  extensively  than  in  any  other  county. 
Now  ^'old  dredirinir  has  hecome  firmly  estahlished  and  prom- 
ises   to    expand.      Here,    as     in    other    mininij:    counties,    the 
growth  of  the  minins:  industry  depends  on  the  development  of 
the  quartz  mines,   and    in   this   direction    Siskiyou   County   is 
now  makinir  the  frreatest  proirress  in   its  history.     Successful 
gold  fpuirtz  mines  have  been  developed  in  the  past,  notably. 
the   Black   Bear   with   a   re<-ord   of  over  Jl?2.r)00.000.   hut   only 
within  three  or  four  years  has  i)rospectin?  for  'j:old  ores  heen 
general  and  active  and  investments  of  mining  capital  fre(|uent. 
This  development  proceeds  i-apidly.  in  spite  of  the  surprising 
lack  of  roads  and  trails  to  some  of  the  rich  hut  remote  mining 
districts.      The    South. in    I'aciHc    railroad    In    Oregon    crosses 
the  cnunty.   with   a   i)rancli   1(«   Vivka.      Most  of  the  county   is 
yet   pul)lic  hind,  iiiid  the  jirosix'ctor  has  a  wide  and  free  field. 
IMaliiiiiiii.    chrome,    lead.    coal.    iron,    and    mineral    waters   are 
among  the  minerals  occurring  liere.     This   is  oue  of  the  few- 
counties    of    the    State    making    an    annual     mineral    record 
exceeding  $1.(M)().()()().      Its  output   in    1!>(«>  was  $1,010,383.  of 
which   $n.'31.3!)T  was   in   gold. 

The  copper  mines  and  i)rospects  of  Siskiyou  County  are 
widely  scattered  over  the  central  and  northern  portions  of  the 
county,  and  include  some  properties  of  considerable  magni- 
tude. Most  of  them  are  of  comparatively  recent  development, 
few  of  them  having  found  mention  in  other  reports  of  the 
State  Mineralogist.  In  the  central  portions  of  the  coimty  the 
prospects  are  confined  to  a  very  few  townships  lying  to  the 
east  of  Scott  Valley,  in  the  vicinity  of  Fort  Jones  and  on 
certain  tributaries  of  the  East  Fork  of  Scott  Kiver.  The 
formations  in  which  these  deposits  occur  are  either  peridotite 
or  gabl)ro.  or  a  metamorphic  schist  overlying  these  eruptives. 


X 


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^  »  »«\V 


# 


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& 


SISKIYOI'    for  NT  Y  I'Jl 

niilt's  loiif?  \)\  >i  inilfs  w  idi-.  There  is  a  iniillitude  of  spl•i^^^s. 
ami  some  important   miiiei-al  spriii^rs  are  well   known. 

Its  mineral  resources  constitute  the  basis  of  Siskiyou's  pros- 
perity and  in'oirress.  lis  iiiiril'cnins  <::ravels  still  provide  the 
hulk  of  the  county's  trokl  output,  thouirh  the  |)eriod  of  simple 
placer  mining  passed  lony:  ago.  Along  the  Khnnath  and 
important  tributaries  large  gravel  deposits  support  profitable 
hydraulic  mines  and  afford  ai)undant  opportunities  for  their 
multiplication.  River-bed  mining,  by  the  use  of  wingdams. 
has  been  pursued  more  e.xtensively  than  in  any  other  county. 
Now  gold  dredging  has  become  firndy  established  and  prom- 
ises to  expand.  Here,  as  in  other  mining  counties,  the 
growth  of  the  mining  industry  depends  on  the  development  of 
the  (puirtz  mines,  and  in  this  direction  Siskiyou  County  is 
now  nudving  the  greatest  progress  in  its  history.  Successful 
gold  quartz  mines  have  been  developed  in  the  past,  notably, 
the  Black  Bear  with  a  record  of  over  $2,500,000.  but  only 
within  three  or  four  years  has  prospecting  for  gold  ores  been 
general  and  active  and  investments  of  mining  capital  frequent. 
This  development  proceeds  i-apidly,  in  spite  of  the  surprising 
lack  of  roads  and  trails  to  some  of  the  rich  but  remote  mining 
districts.  The  Southei-n  racitic  raili-oad  to  Oregon  crosses 
the  count\'.  with  a  liranch  1o  Vi-eka.  .Most  of  the  county  is 
yet  public  land,  and  the  pros])ector  has  a  wide  and  free  field. 
Platinum,  chrome,  lead.  coal.  iron,  and  mineral  waters  are 
among  the  minerals  oceurriiiL:'  here.  This  is  one  of  the  few 
counties  of  the  State  making  an  ainiual  mineral  record 
exceeding  $1.()00.0()0.  Its  output  in  !!»(•(»  was  .$1. 01 0.383.  of 
wjiich   $051.31)7   was   in   gold. 

The  copper  mines  and  prospects  of  Siskiyou  County  are 
widely  scattered  over  the  central  and  northern  portions  of  the 
county,  and  include  some  properties  of  consideral)le  magni- 
t\ul<'.  Most  of  them  are  of  comparatively  recent  development, 
few  of  them  having  found  mention  in  other  reports  of  the 
State  Mineralogist.  In  the  central  portions  of  the  count\'  the 
prospects  are  confined  to  a  very  few  townships  lying  to  the 
east  of  Scott  Valley,  in  the  vicinity  of  Fort  Jones  and  on 
certain  tributaries  of  the  East  Fork  of  Scott  River.  The 
formations  in  which  these  deposits  occur  are  either  peridotite 
or  gabbro.  or  a  metaraorphic  schist  overlying  these  eruptives. 


122  THE  COPPER  RESOURCES  OK  CALIFORNIA. 

The  ores  are  largely  sulphides  of  iron  and  copper,  and  include 
pjTite,  pyrrhotite.  and  chalcopyrite.  Some  of  the  deposits 
tliat  have  l)een  regarded  as  valuable  for  copper  are  chiefly 
interesting  for  their  gold  and  silver  values,  and  as  a  possible 
.source  of  silicious  ores  for  prospective  operations. 

The  prospects  found  to  the  north  of  the  Klamath  River  are 
scattered  throughout  the  whole  extent  of  the  Siskiyou  range 
from  the  vicinity  of  the  Cottonwood  Valley  westward  to  Pres- 
ton Peak.  They  may  be  grouped  in  five  districts — the  Cotton- 
Avood,  Applegate.  Indian  Creek.  Clear  Creek,  and  Preston 
Peak  districts. 

The  formations  in  wliich  tliese  deposits  occur  are  various. 
The  Siskiyou  range,  like  other  east-and-west  ranges  in  the 
Klamatli  region,  is  one  of  complex  geological  structure.  In 
general  terms  it  is  composed  largely  of  crystalline  schists  and 
slates  and  basic  eruptive  rocks  which  are  involved  in  or  under- 
lie them.  The  basic  rocks  are  mainly  of  the  peridotite-diorite 
class.     Granite  also  occurs  at  intervals  througliout  the  range. 

The  basic  crystalline  (eruptive)  rocks  form  some  of  the 
most  prominent  j^oints  of  the  range,  no  less  conspicuous  for 
their  color  than  foi-  their  altitude.  Several  of  the  prominent 
mountains  have  been  indiscriminately  styled  "Red  ^foun- 
tain." on  account  of  the  reddish-brown  color  which  peridotite 
assumes  in  weathering.  Preston  Peak,  Greyback,  and  others 
of  the  higher  summits  are  of  diorite  or  kindred  rocks.  While 
the  main  course  of  the  range  is  westerly,  its  actual  watershed 
is  extremely  devious,  passing  alternately  into  Oregon  and  into 
northern  California.  Copper  deposits  are  found  either  in  slate, 
schist,  diorite,  gabbro,  or  serpentine. 

The  Siskiyou  ]Mountain  copper  belt,  if  it  may  be  so  styled, 
follows  approximately  the  Oregon  and  California  state  line 
for  a  distance  of  60  miles,  with  a  width  of  more  than  20  miles 
from  the  Klamath  River  north  into  Oregon.  As  a  mining 
region  it  has  been  prospected  to  a  very  small  extent  for  either 
gold  or  copper.  Yet  it  is  interesting  to  remember  that  the 
streams  heading  in  this  range,  both  on  the  north  and  south, 
have  been  among  the  richest  placer  streams  in  this  region. 
And  it  is  also  true  that  this  range  contains  as  clear  evidences 
of  copper  deposits  as  of  gold,  and  should  be  as  attractive  to 
prospectors  in  search  of  base  metals  as  to  those  in  search  of 


SISKIYOU    COLNTV — Col'l'KK    CLAIMS.  12:{ 

jiiiy  olliri-,  Allhiiuj,^li  tliis  region  is  except ionally  ru^y:e(l  in 
places,  it  is  hy  no  means  nnapproadiahle,  particularly  from 
the  north.  Tlic  natural  advanta^jes  of  water-power  and 
timber  are  everywhere  aliuiuhmt. 

The  follow  inu'  irronps  of  copper  claims  ai-f  those  of  mo.st 
note  tiiat  ai-c  known  in  Siskiyou  County: 

Hummer  Group. — Consists  of  three  claims  in  section  18, 
townshi|»  4i>  tiorth.  range  7  west.  Mount  Diablo  meridian; 
owned  h_\-  Messrs.  Misdilcr  tJc  Rollins,  of  Callahans.  These 
claims  have  hccn  worked  to  only  a  limited  extent  by  shafts 
and  open  cuts.  The  formation  is  mainly  serpentine,  thouj^h 
the  ore  deposits  are  connected  with  dikes  of  quartz  porphyry 
which  have  penetrated  tlie  serpentine.  The  ore  lies  in 
irregular  bodies,  consisting  of  pyrrhotite  and  other  sulphides 
<'nri-ying  copper.     Tlie  ore  is  said  to  contain  nickel. 

Bonanza  Group. — Tw^elve  claims  in  one  body  situated  in 
sections  27  and  34,  townsliij)  42  north,  range  8  west;  owned 
by  Charles  S.  Cowan,  of  Fort  Jones.  W.  S.  Carrico,  and  others. 
Developed  by  shafts  and  tunnels.  These  deposits  are  in  the 
form  of  quartz  veins  carrying  a  small  percentage  of  sulphides, 
but  are  chiefly  interesting  for  their  gold  and  silver  values. 

Copper  Queen  Claim. — One  claim  in  section  27,  town.ship 
46  north,  range  !)  west;  owned  by  TI.  J.  Barton,  of  Oak  Bar, 
and  William  ^loxey:  developed  by  tunnels  300  feet  in  length. 
The  deposit  is  a  quartz  vein  carrying  sulphurets  of  iron  and 
copper. 

Plutus  Group. — Five  claims  situated  in  sections  12  and 
14.  townshij)  40  north,  range  8  west;  owned  by  McCarter  and 
John  Erickson.  of  Callahans.  The  ore  is  pyrrhotite,  with  a 
small  percentage  of  copper.  The  formation  is  gabbro  and 
serpentine. 

Fortuna  Group. — Two  claims  in  section  14,  township  40 
north,  range  8  west;  owned  by  E.  (1.  Harrison  of  Callalians, 
and  others.     The  ore  is  pyrrhotite,  etc.,  in  gabbro  and  diorite. 

Solomon. — One  claim  in  section  14,  township  40  north, 
range  8  west;  owned  by  .M.  Greenberg  of  San  Francisco,  and 
developed  by  one  shaft. 


124  THE  COPPER  RESOURCES  OF  CALIFORXIA. 

Hidden  Treasure. — Tlirrc  claims,  located  on  Boulder 
Creek,  four  miles  southwest  of  ("allahaus;  owned  1)\'  .John 
Russel  and  the  Alger  Brothers  of  C'allahans.  The  vein  is  said 
to  liave  a  widlli  of  S  feet,  consisting  of  sulphide  witli  some 
quartz.  It  carries  copper,  with  some  gold  and  silver.  On  the 
pr()]i('i'ty  tlien^  is  one  tunnel. 

August  Flower  Group. — Two  claims  in  section  1,  toAvn- 
ship  41  nortli.  I'ange  8  west;  owned  by  Harrison  Bros.,  of 
Callahans.  The  ore  consists  of  irregular  hodies  of  pyri'hotite 
and  clialcoi)yrite  in  serpentine. 

Huntley  Claim. — One  claim  situated  in  section  12.  loAvn- 
ship  40  nortli.  range  8  Avest ;  owned  b.v  Harry  ]\Iitcliell. 
"Williain  Bremer  et  al.,  of  Callahans.  The  ore  consists  of 
pyrrhotite  and  chalcopyrite. 

Lytic. — Two  claims  in  section  20.  town.ship  40  north,  range 
7  west ;  owned  by  J.  A.  Lytle  &  Son,  of  Callahans.  Developed 
by  tunneling.  The  ore.  which  consists  of  irregular  bodies 
of  chalcopyrite  and  pyrrhotite.  follows  a  contact  between  a 
dike  of  quartz  ])oryhyry  and  serpentine.  Some  of  the  lenses 
of  ore  have  a  thickness  of  10  to  15  feet.  The  ore  also  contains 
some  gold. 

Polar  Bear  Claim. — One  chiiin  in  section  12.  loAvnship  40 
north,  range  8  west ;  owned  by  (}.  AVelker  &  Sons,  of  Callalians. 
and  others.  Developed  by  a  shaft  and  tunnels.  The  principal 
ore  body  consists  of  a  shoot  5  to  6  feet  wide,  from  which  nearly 
200  tons  of  ore  Avere  extracted  in  1900,  carrying  values  reported 
at  about  17  per  cent  of  copper.  The  ore  is  clialcopyrite  and 
pyri'hotite  in  serpentine. 

Rader  Group. — Three  claims  in  section  17.  toAvnship  40 
north,  range  7  west;  owned  by  Charles  Radei'.  of  (razelle.  and 
others.  Some  development  work  has  been  done.  The  ore  con- 
sists of  pyrrhotite.  and  is  said  to  contain  nickel. 

Turner  Claim. — One  claim  in  section  7.  lownship  40  north, 
range  7  west.  Some  work  has  been  done,  with  a  good  showing 
of  chalcopyrite. 

Monarch  Copper  Group. — Consists  of  al)out  240  acres  of 
patented  land  situated  in  the  east  half  of  section  7.  township 
40  north,  range  7  west ;  owned  by  the  ^lonarch  Copper  Alining 


SISKIMH     ((H   NIV — COI'PKR   CLAIMS.  125 

Company.  Charles  l'\  rt'ttey.  of  Callaliaiis.  prcsicloiit.  Devel- 
oped 1»\  tunnels  and  shaft.s.  Sidpiiide  ores  of  j;ood  ^rade  are 
reported. 

Thanksg^iving  Group. — Con.sisl.s  of  several  claims  one  and 
a  lijilt"  miles  nurlheast  of  Oro  Finn;  ount'd  liy  (rcorjie  Hen- 
derson, ot"  Fort  .lones.     Surface  indications  very  j.rood. 

Rothkoph  Group. — Fifteen  claims  located  in  sections  5,  6, 
7.  and  8,  township  43  north.  ran«re  8  west,  four  miles  northeast 
of  Fort  .loncs;  owned  by  Geor<>:e  ilriidei'son.  ol"  l''ort  -lones. 
Developed  liy  shafts  and  tunnels.  The  formations  are  l)asic 
eruptive  rocks,  including:  s<.'rpentine  overlaid  hy  silicious  .strata 
containing;  some  slate.  The  ore  lies  partly  along  the  contact, 
and  consists  of  chalcopyrite  and  pyrite  in  lenticular  bodies, 
liavinjr  a  width  of  5  or  G  feet.  Several  patches  of  jzossan  and 
iron-stained  rock  occur  on  the  surface.  Some  of  the  ore 
<*arries  values  reported  at  12  to  lo  i)cr  cent  coj)i)er. 

Schnider  Claims. — Two  claims  in  section  12.  lownslii])  40 
north,  ranu'e  8  west,  and  .section  18.  township  40  north.  i-an<re 
7  west.  Developed  by  open  cuts.  The  ore  is  similar  to  that  of 
the  Polar  Rear.    Owned  by  L.  Schnider  &  Son,  of  Callahans. 

Rainbow^  Group. — This  property  is  located  in  the  ]\Iount 
Eddy  district,  and  consi.sts  of  300  acres  in  section  24.  town- 
ship 40  north,  range  5  west,  four  miles  southwest  of  Sissou. 
It  is  owned  by  the  Wood  &  Sheldon  Lumber  Company  of 
Sisson.  Gossan  croppings.  100  to  GOO  feet  wide,  are  exposed 
for  over  a  mile  on  a  spur  of  Mount  Eddy,  the  ;strike  of  the 
vein  being  70  degrees  wast  of  north,  with  a  steep  dip  to  north- 
east. The  development  consists  of  tunnels,  a  number  of  open 
cuts  and  shallow  shafts  along  the  croppings.  The  main  or  east 
tunnel  penetrates  the  hill  for  400  feet,  bearing  a  little  ea.st  of 
north,  and  cutting  the  vein  300  feet  from  the  mouth.  The 
width  of  the  vein  is  6  feet,  and  the  character  of  the  ore  is  a 
ma.ssive  sulphide,  similar  in  appearance  to  the  ores  of  the 
copper  belt  of  Shasta  County.  The  foot  wall  is  a  soft  green 
stone,  and  bodies  of  serpentine  and  intrusive  granite,  porphyry 
and  rhyolite  occur  in  the  vicinity  of  the  mine.  The  lumber 
company's  railroad  skirts  the  edge  of  the  mountain  on  Avhich 
the  property  lies.  The  property  has  been  known  for  thirty 
years.     It  was  first  worked  for  gold. 


126  THE  COPPER  RESOURCES  OF  CALIFORNIA. 

Yellow  Butte  Mine.— The  Yellow  Butte  consists  of  300 
acres  in  the  west  half  of  section  25,  township  40  north,  range 
5  west,  about  fifteen  miles  from  [Montague,  on  the  north  slope 
of  Mount  Shasta.  The  formations  are  schist  and  granite,  the 
vein  is  enclosed  in  the  latter  rock,  its  strike  is  north-south,  dip 
60  degrees  west,  width  4  to  5  feet.  It  contains  oxides  and 
sulphides  of  copper  in  a  quartz  gangue.  Development  Avork 
consists  of  drifts  and  crosscuts  and  two  shafts,  the  main  shaft 
being  sunk  on  the  foot  wall.  The  mine  is  close  to  the  California 
Northeastern  Railway,  which  connects  with  the  Southern  Pacific 
road  at  Weed.  Secretary  of  the  Yellow  Butte  Company  is 
Dr.  J.  D.  Ball,  of  San  Juan  ;  superintendent.  L.  D.  Ball,  of 
Edgewood. 

Bonanza  Group. — Two  claims  in  township  47  north,  range 
8  west,  Mount  Diablo  meridian ;  owned  by  Erick  Carlson,  of 
Hornbrook,  and  others.  The  property  is  developed  by  tunnels, 
shafts,  etc.,  showing  a  deposit  of  sulphide  ore  8  to  12  feet 
thick,  which  has  been  followed  laterally  for  a  distance  of 
100  feet.  The  ores  are  pyrrhotite  and  chalcopyrite,  some  of 
which  carry  a  good  percentage  of  copper.  Assays  have  shown 
reported  values  ranging  from  8  to  20  per  cent  copper. 

Bimnell  Group. — Comprises  a  number  of  claims  situated 
near  the  head  of  Dutch  Creek,  adjoining  the  Bonanza  group. 
and  containing  similar  ores.  They  are  owned  by  the  Bunnell 
Brothers,  of  Gottville. 

Unexpected  Group. — Two  claims  in  section  17,  township 
47  north,  range  8  west :  owned  by  Ponnay  Brothers  et  al..  of 
Portland,  Oregon.  The.se  claims  join  the  Bonanza  and  Bunnell 
groups,  and  contain  ores  of  the  same  character.  They  are 
developed  by  short  tunnels  and  open  cuts. 

The  deposits  of  the  three  preceding  groups  are  mainly  con- 
tained in  a  crystalline  (horn])lendic)  schist,  associated  with 
peridotite. 

Silver  Mountain  Mine. — Five  non-patented  claims  in  sec- 
tion 20,  townshij)  4(»  lutrth,  range  7  west;  owned  by  J.  A. 
Lytle,  of  Callahans.  They  are  situated  on  Silver  ^Mountain, 
along  Grouse  Creek,  seven  miles  northeast  of  Callahans. 
Development,  tunnels  and  crosscuts,  with  several  upraises  and 
winzes.    Ore  occurs  in  a  serpentine  schist,  faulted  and  distorted 


SISKIYOr   COINTY — Cori'ER   CLAIMS.  127 

by  intnisions  of  porpliyry.  Strike  of  vein  nearly  north  and 
south,  (lip  45  cle^'ree.s  west.  Considerable  heavy  sulphide  ore, 
report«'d  to  averajre  from  5  per  eent  to  6  per  eent,  is  e.xposed 
in  ;i  well-defined  Imt  twisted  vein. 

Ten  Lakes  Mine. — This  property  is  owned  and  operated  by 
the  Ten  Lakes  Mininir  Company,  of  Ed^ewood.  Cal.  C.  S. 
Osborne  is  manaiyrer.  The  location  consists  of  nine  claims  and 
water  ri^rhts  in  section  20.  township  4  north,  range  0  west. 
Claims  not  patented.  Development,  numenuis  open  cut.s.  The 
ore  formation  is  very  similar  to  that  of  the  Yellow  Butte  mine 
The  ore  consists  of  carlH)nate  and  sulphide  in  a  shattered 
({uartz  of  vein-like  structure  enclosed  in  the  porphyritic  granite 
formation.  Hornblende  takes  the  place  of  mica  in  much  of  the 
granite.     Elevation.  7000  feet. 

Hathaway  Mine. — This  property  comprises  the  northeast 
(luarter  of  .section  11.  township  40  north,  range  9  west,  situatcil 
on  Sugar  Creek,  about  four  miles  from  Callahans.  There  is  ;i 
well-defined  fissure  vein  with  a  porphyry  foot  and  a  quartz 
hanging  wall.  18  to  24  inches  wide;  strike  northea.st-southwest : 
dip  almost  vertical,  gangue  rock  quartz.  The  mine  has  been 
worked  for  gold.  l)ut  in  depth  sulphides  of  copper  were  encoun- 
tered. There  are  several  hundred  feet  of  tunnels,  stopes.  and 
upraises.     Owner.  ?].  Hathaway,  of  Etna. 

Eaton  Claims. — Three  non-patented  claims  on  Tiger  Fork 
of  Sugar  Creek,  about  five  miles  from  Callahans.  Oxides  and 
sulphides  of  copper  are  exjiosed  on  the  surface  in  garnetiferous 
rock,  containing  quartz  and  ealcite.  Development,  tunnels  and 
numerous  open  cuts.  Tin-  tunnels  show  disseminated  sulphides 
in  the  faces.     Owner.  .Mi'.  Eaton,  of  Etna. 

Bathhurst  Claims. — Patented  land,  northeast  quarter  of 
section  1").  township  40  north,  range  f)  west,  on  both  sides  of 
Sugar  Creek,  aliout  six  miles  from  Callahans.  Owner.  Y,.  W. 
Bathhurst.  of  Etna. 

Driggs  Claims. — Tln-ee  non-patented  claims  in  section  IS. 
townsliip  4(»  iioi'tii.  range  7  west.  Owned  by  E.  11.  Driggs,  of 
Berkelev. 


128  THE  COPPER  RESOURCES  OF  CALIFORNIA. 

ELLIOT  MINING  DISTRICT. 

In  the  early  days  of  placer  iniiiiiiL:  many  of  the  stream.s  on 
the  northern  slojie  of  the  Siskiyou  ^lountain.s.  tributaries  of 
the  Kojiue  Hiver.  were  worked  for  ^old.  and  in  nian\-  places 
remnants  are  found  of  extensive  operations.  When  the  placers 
became  exhausted,  more  attention  was  paid  to  lode  mining, 
but  no  great  results  were  achieved.  ^Nlany  of  the  veins  carried 
copper,  which  at  that  time  was  a  detriment  rather  than  an 
advantage,  and  they  remained  idle  if  they  did  not  contain 
sufficient  values  in  gold  b&sides  to  make  the  work  profitable. 
With  the  increased  importance  of  the  copper  industry,  these 
prospects  have  attracted  considerable  attention  lately,  work 
has  been  resumed  on  the  older  properties,  and  many  new  loca- 
tions have  been  made.  Elliot  district,  townships  47  and  -48 
north,  range  12  west,  comprises  the  drainage  area  of  Elliot 
and  Cook  and  Green  creeks,  tributaries  of  Applegate  River, 
from  their  mouths,  about  1500  feet  above  sea  level,  to  the 
summit  of  the  range,  6000  feet  above  sea  level.  The  mountains 
are  formed  by  crystalline  silicious  chloritic  and  micaceous 
schists,  overlying  basic  igneous  rock,  showing  in  the  lower 
valleys.  Two  miles  above  the  mouth  of  Elliot  Creek,  at  its 
junction  with  Joe  Creek,  lies  the  old  placer  camp  and  post 
office,  Joe  Bar,  1!)00  feet  above  sea  level,  and  six  miles  farther 
up  the  latter  creek  is  located  the 

Blue  Ledge  Mine,  the  most  important  property  in  this  dis- 
trict, owned  In-  the  Hlue  Ledge  ^Mining  Company  of  New  York. 
Considerable  improvements  have  been  made  on  the  surface  and 
underground.  A  good  wagon  road  was  built  from  Joe  Bar  to 
the  camp.  4000  feet  above  sea  level,  Avhich  has  a  sawmill,  offices, 
residences,  etc.,  sufficient  to  accommodate  a  large  force.  The 
underground  workings  aggregate  over  2500  feet.  The  ore  occurs 
in  a  vein  bearing  north  and  south,  dip  almost  vertical,  with  a 
slight  inclination  west,  its  outcrop  being  traceable  for  about 
3000  feet.  The  east,  or  foot  Avail,  is  formed  by  a  dark  gray 
or  black,  somewhat  micaceous,  schist ;  the  west,  or  hanging 
wall,  by  a  soft  white  hydro-mica  schist.  The  walls  are  not 
always  well  defined,  mineralization  extending  frequently  into 
the  hanging  wall,  but  the  ore  bodies  are  usually  separated  by  a 
thin  band  of  clavev  matter  of  brown  color.     The  ore  consists 


SISKIVor    CiMNrN        COIM'KK    CLAIMS.  121* 

III'  |)\  ritf.  <-liiili'<i|)vriti'.  .iinl  oIIkt  sulpliidt-s  and  oxides  (if  irmi 
iiiid  fu|»|)cr.  and  carries  a  small  peri'ditaiie  nt'  /iiic  hieiide  and 
soin*'  (|uart/..  The  average  valne  of  the  oi'e  is  reported  al)(i\e 
(5  per  t-eiit  of  (•op|)er  and  more  tlian  $•")  pei*  ton  of  s^old  and 
silvei",  samph's  Lrivin.Li'  occasionally  iinich  liiLilier  assays.  The 
two  main  tunnels  ai'e  l2.')()  feet  apfii't.  and  ai-e  connected  hy 
winzes  and  upraises,  lioth  of  them  show  ore.  and  an  inter- 
mediate di"ift  runs  over  !.'»()  feet  in  a  solid  Ixuiy  4(1  feet 
wide  in  places,  liesides  a  fair  pei-centa^"e  of  coppei'.  the  ore 
is  repoi'ted  to  have  assaxed  as  lii'^li  as  ^1(10  in  iiold.  It  is 
statt'd  that  the  cnmi)any  has  planned  the  erection  of  a  smelter 
on  Appicjriite  Kivei-  and  a  wii'e  tramway  from  the  niine  to  t  he 
smelter. 

Ihe  St.  Albans  Group  of  tiftccn  claims,  owned  hy  II.  (al- 
laijiian  et  al.,  post  office.  Eili'en.  adjoins  the  liliie  Ledyc 
jjroperty  on  the  east.  The  foimalion  is  the  same  as  in  the 
foi'niei'.  and  iron-stained  croppiiiiis  ari'  found  on  the  surface. 
Development  consists  in  three  liintiels,  inchidiim'  di'ifts.  a  total 
of  47(»  feet. 

The  Cook  and  Green  Group,  four  claiins.  owned  hy  ihe 
Siskiyou  Copper  Coiupany.  W.  ().\ley.  Toronto,  is  located  at 
the  head  of  ( 'ook  and  (ireen  ("reek.  Two  luniiels  have  heeii 
driven  in  stroiiL;'  iron  Liossan  on  the  west  side  of  tiie  creek,  one 
close  to  the  crei'k.  the  other  about  'M^i^  feet  al)o\'e.  Both  show 
sulphiile  of  copi)er  witii  |)yrites  of  iron  in  the  face.  On  the 
west  side  of  the  creek  in  the  cont  iiniat  ion  of  the  same  outcrop 
is  one  tunnel,  and  .')()  feet  below  another,  the  faces  of  both  beiii.y 
in  sulphide  ores. 

liuck  (.V:  Sulli\an  haxc  located  a  i-Iaim  on  the  same  mountain. 
runniiiL:  a   Iniinel. 

The  Bloomfield,  owned  by  L.  Adams.  Hileen.  has  a  tunnel 
on  a  vein  showiiiLT  some  sulpiiide  ores. 

The  First  National  Claim,  owned  by  the  Joe  Creek  Com- 
pany.  .Medford.  has  two  tunnels,  showing;-  some  sulpludes. 

• 

E.  L.  Jones,  of  TTiitton  post  office,  owns  a  group  of  eiglit 
claims,  extendiuL;-  fi"om  Joe  to  Klliof  Creek.     A  stronir  e-ossan 
crops  out  on  the  Coppei-  KiiiLi'  and  ( 'opperopolis  claim,  and  a 
!)— BiL.  50 


130  TIIK  COl'l'KK  KESOIKCKS  OK  CALIFORNIA. 

30-f()()t  tuiuu^l  with  ri  !)()-f()()l  drift  h;is  cut  ;i  vein  of  over  5 
feet  of  ore.  sulphide  of  ii'on  ;iiid  copper,  with  some  quartz  and 
hornite.  which  is  said  to  assay  [)  j)er  cent  copper.  $8  in  jrold. 
and  ^ii  in  silver.  A  tunnel  has  been  started  lower  down  to 
cut  this  vein  at  jireater  depth  and  is  in  230  feet. 

The  same  party  owns  the  lulo  ^roup  of  five  claims  on  top 
of  the  ran^e.  on  which  development  work,  tunnel  and  crosscut, 
has  been  done,  and  which  has  ore  reported  to  carry  $45  in 
gold  and  copper  values. 

K.  S.  ITufl:'  owns  ten  claims  on  Elliot  Creek  close  to  the 
Oregon  line,  on  which  three  iron-stained  outcrops  can  be 
traced.    A  tunnel  on  the  north  side  of  the  creek  is  in  50  feet. 

On  the  southern  slope  of  the  range  the  following  locations 
have  been  made : 

]\Iorris  group,  nine  claims. 

Shaco  group,  two  claims. 

Selby  &  McGill,  two  claims. 

Anderson  group,  four  claims. 

Wellington,  (Jreen  &  l*age.  five  claims. 

Copper  City  group,  twelve  claims.  Wells  tJc  Wetzel. 

Little  Jinnny  gronj).  two  claims. 

Jonesville  group,  one  claim. 


HAPPY  CAMP  MINING  DISTRICT. 

Happy  Camp  is  situated  on  the  Klamath  River,  at  the  mouth 
of  Indian  Creek,  in  towiisliij)  29  north,  range  8  east,  at  an 
elevation  of  10i)2  feet  al)ove  sea  level.  Extensis'e  placer  mining 
was  carried  on  in  the  early  days  along  the  river  and  its  tribu- 
taries, and  hydraulic  sluicing  is  still  in  operation  in  nuiny 
places.  In  recent  times  the  numerous  indications  of  co])per 
have  received  some  attention,  and  a  number  of  claims  have 
been  located  on  the  mountains  overlooking  the  Klamath,  and 
especially  on  the  ridges  on  both  sides  of  Indian  Creek.  These 
mountains  consist  of  a  coarse-grained  granite  porphyry,  under- 
lying talcose  schists,  dolomite  and  serpentine. 

The  Oak  Hollow  Group,  six  miles  from  Happy  Camp,  above 
the  Klamath,  nine  claims,  unpatented;  two  tunnels.  Pyrites 
Avith  little  copper. 


Siskiyou  County 


PRESTON  PEAK  GROUP 
OF  COPPER  MINES. 


I'VI  THE  COl'I'KK  KKSOIKCES  OF  CALIKOKXIA. 

The  following  ciaiins  are  located  in  townsliip  27  north,  raiiire 
8  east : 

The  Dewey  Group. —  l-'ivc  claims ;  located  in  18!)5  by  W.  I. 
Hrown ;  bonded  1o  Frank  11.  DaUins.  .li-..  Yi-cka.  A  stronir 
vein  in  schist,  conr.se  sontlnvest-northeast.  dij)  northwest. 
Tunnel  100  feet,  drift  280  feet,  all  in  oi-t- :  chalcopyritc  and 
l)yrite;  said  to  assay  from  $2  to  i|>8  in  <iold.  Width  not  exactly 
known.  There  are  three  other  tunnels  liesides  and  one  50-foot 
raise,  or  l.joO  feet  altogether.  This  property  is  situated  east 
of  Indian  Creek,  2760  feet  above  sea  level,  seven  miles  from 
Happy  Camp. 

The  Gilpin  Group. — Five  claims,  on  the  same  mountain 
south  of  tile  Dewey  group.  A  strong  outcrop  of  gossan  and 
sidphides.  running  northeast-southwest. 

The  Doolittle  Creek  Group  of  eight  claims;  located  by  J.  11. 
Ilendricksen.  at  the  head  of  Doolittle  Creek,  west  of  Indian 
Creek,  shows  a  gossan  outcrop  and  sul])hide  ore  in  a  2r)-foot  cut. 

The  Little  Blue  Group,  two  miles  above  llapi)y  Camp,  con- 
sists of  nine  claims,  and  shows  some  oxitlized  and  sulphide  ores 
in  an  open  cut.     Owuers.  Wells  &  ]\loon.  llapp>   Camj). 

Clear  Creek  District. — A  number  of  claims  have  been  located 
on  Clear  Creek  and  its  tributaries,  west  of  Happy  Camp. 
About  eight  miles  above  its  moutli  l)i'.  F.  Tebbs,  of  Weed,  owns 
and  has  Ixnided  forty  claims  on  which  are  large  iron  outcrops. 

The  Buster  Group  nf  ten  claims  belong  to  the  same  parties. 

Buzzard  Hill  Group. — Nine  claims  on  the  east  side  of 
the  Klamath. 

Titus  Creek,  on  the  east  side  t)f  the  river,  ten  claims  owned 
by  Dr.  Tebl)s.  Eighty  feet  iron  outcrop.  Titus  Creek  had 
very  rich  placers  in  the  early  days. 

Nigger  Creek  Group. — Several  claims  owned  by  David 
Jones  I't  al..  of  Fort  .lones.  situated  near  the  head  of  Nigger 
(Veek.  five  miles  northwest  of  Hand)urg  Bar. 

Preston  Peak  Group. — Five  claims  situated  at  the  head  of 
the  .south  fork  of  hulian  Creek,  one  and  a  half  miles  north  of 
Preston  Peak;  owned  by  Preston  Peak  Copper  Mining  Com- 
pany.   Developed  to  some  extent  in  past  years.    The  formation 


I)i:i,    NOHTK    CDINTV'.  ]'l^ 

is  inaiiilv  diorilt'  ni-  'jiilyltro.  Tin'  Indc  crosses  llic  siimiiiil  in 
a  soulhwTstt'rlv  diccct  itni.  ;iinl  foiisists  nt"  a  succession  of 
shoots,  some  of  w  liicli  have  a  width  of  2(1  to  :{(l  feet.  Thf  oi-es 
are  |)\  I'ile  and  chah'opvfite.  The  averay^e  iii'ade  of  the  ore  is 
said  to  he  \'2  per  cent  in  copper,  with  some  irohl.  'I'his  property 
is  one  of  till'  [lioiieer  iliscoveries  (»f  the  Sisl<i\dn  belt.  The 
Tiiaiii  tunnel  is  ;{(I0  feet  hmy.  and  shows  oi-e  all  aloni;.  chalco- 
|)yi"ite.  some  horinte.  and  native  co|)per.  One  hundred  feet 
from  the  month  a  wiii/.e  was  sunk  40  feet  deep,  all  in  ore. 
which  carries  sonu'  irold.  A  tunnel  was  started  sunie  distance 
helow. 


DEL  NORTE  COUNTY. 


Del  Norte  Counl.x'  conunands  a  prominent  phu-e  in  any 
story  of  CaliforiHa's  copper  industry,  on  account  of  its 
historical  associations  with  the  heirinninL;'  of  that  industry 
and  hecause  of  the  (piite  widespread  occuri'enccs  of  copper 
ores,  tlicii-  fre(|ueiit  ricluiess.  and  the  possibilities  of  future 
development. 

It  is  one  of  the  smallei'  counties  of  the  State,  is  sparsely 
settleil.  and  po.ssesses  well-wooded  and  mineralized  mountains 
in  the  seelusion  of  the  northwest  coi-ner  of  the  State,  fai-  fi-om 
raili'oads.  aiul  with  the  Pacitic  for  its  chief  liii;liwa.\'  to  the  rest 
of  the  woi'ld.  It  is  this  remoteness  which  has  been  the  prin- 
cipal hindrance  to  the  development  of  its  mineral  resources, 
amont-'  which  cop|)er  has  ever  lidd  an  impoi'taid  place.  .\s  is 
note<l  elsewhere.  cop|M'|-  niUlitIL;  was  acti\'e  ller'e  ill  I  lie  sixties. 
and  thousands  of  tons  of  hi.«rh-jrrade  ore  wei'c  shipped  to 
Swansea  at  a  cost  of  about  ^'M)  per  ton.  including  costly 
hanlaire  to  the  coast.  That  unfavorable  econonne  condition, 
coupled  with  lower  priees  for  coppci-  and  a  partial  exhaustion 
of  I'ich  surface  ores,  imposed  a  louiz  (pne.scence  on  the  indus- 
1r\.  .Many  favorable  conditions  for  copper  mininy  e.xist.  and 
sooner  oi-  later  capital  will  undertake  efficient  exploitation  by 
modern  methods.  The  lai-irer  |)ait  of  the  eountv's  area  is  vet 
public  land,  and  here  the  prospector  finds  a  continuance  of  the 


134  THE  COPPER  RB:S0URCES  ok  CALIFORNIA. 

wide  and  attractive  field  afforded  in  adjoining  counties  of 
northern  California. 

Most  of  the  known  deposits  of  copper  in  this  county  lie 
along  its  northern  border,  and  for  the  most  part  are  situated 
on  some  of  the  northern  tributaries  of  Smith  River.  Three 
districts  are  now  generally  recognized  along  this  belt,  although 
good  deposits  occur  outside  of  them  in  other  sections  of  the 
county.  The  two  older  districts  are  those  of  the  Low  Divide 
and  of  Diamond  Creek.  The  more  recent  discoveries  have  been 
made  farther  east,  upon  Shelly  Creek,  and  one  of  the  tribu- 
taries  of  the  Siski^^ou  Fork  of  Smith  River.  In  tlie  southern 
portion  of  the  county  is  the  Doctor  Rock  group,  which  will 
be  mentioned  eLsewhere. 

The  formation  which  composes  the  greater  part  of  Del 
Norte  County  and  that  in  which  most  of  the  copper  deposits 
lie  is  peridotite  (serpentine).  Diorite  or  gabbro  is  generally 
found  accompanying  the  peridotite,  and  thoy  are  generally 
regarded  as  more  favorable  to  permanent  deposits  of  ore.  The 
cores,  or  central  portions,  of  many  of  the  ridges  and  spurs 
are  of  a  gray  crystalline  rock,  either  gabbro  or  diorite.  This 
is  superficially  covered  by  a  thick  casing  of  serpentine.  The 
diorite  or  gabbro  appears  in  the  more  prominent  points  of 
the  mountain,  protruding  through  the  serpentine,  or  exposed 
by  erosion  in  some  of  the  deeper  canyons.  At  the  contact  of 
the  serpentine  with  the  gabbro  or  diorite.  or  within  the  crystal- 
line gray  rocks  themselves,  have  been  found  some  of  the  better 
deposits  of  ore.  not  only  in  Del  Norte  County,  but  also  in 
Siskiyou  and  Trinity'  counties. 

Most  of  the  copper  deposits  of  this  county,  however,  are 
either  in  the  peridotite.  or  are  more  or  less  closely  connected 
with  it.  In  many  cases  the  shoots  of  ore  that  have  been 
developed  in  former  years  are  limited  in  extent,  few  of  them 
having  been  proven  to  contain  more  than  a  few  hundred,  or 
even  a  few  tons  of  ore.  They  are  generally  irregular,  or  else 
consist  of  a  series  of  ])unches  or  lenses  of  ore  arranged  along  a 
zone  which  is  itself  only  vaguely  definable.  The  ore  is  often 
of  very  high  grade,  consisting  of  copper  glance,  black  and  red 
oxides,  carbonates,  and  native  copper.  Pyrrhotite  is  often 
found,  and  in  some  ca.ses  magnetic  iron  or  chromite  accom- 
panies the  ores  of  copper.   Chalcopyrite  is  not  common.   Gold 


136  TlIK  COPPKK  RESOURCES  OF  CALIFORNIA. 

.111(1  silver  lire  Mlinost  iiiiivci'sally  rcpdrtcd  as  accompanying 
the  copix'i-  and  correspondingly  increasing  ils  value.  It  is 
not  iiiiiisual  \'nr  sliii)nients  of  ore  to  can-y  an  average  of  30 
Jill-  cciil.  and  often  reach  .">()  to  fiO  jx'r  cent  in  coj^per.  The 
cost  of  shi]>ping  ore  from  Crescent  City  to  San  Francisco  is 
approximately  $(>  ]iei-  ton.  The  transportation  of  ore  from 
the  mines  lo  llie  landing  varies  in  each  case,  hut  it  has 
generally   ranged  hctwicn  .^^2.50  and  $10  ])er  ton. 

The  following  are  some  of  the  more  imj>ortant  coppei-  mines 
and  elaiiiis  in  the  various  districts  of  Del  Xorte  County. 

According  to  reports  oidy  assessment  work  has  been  done 
on  Diamond  Creek,  hut  a  number  of  prospects  are  being 
developed  on  Patrick  and  Sliell,\-  Creek  (^lonnmental  post 
office)  along  the  stage  road  from  Grant's  Pass  to  Crescent 
City.  Of  greater  importance,  however,  is  the  resumption  of 
work  in  the  Low  Divide  district,  which  ]n'o(luccd  all  the  ore 
shipped  in  former  years  to  Swansea  or  el.sewhere. 


THE  LOW  DIVIDE  DISTRICT. 

Situated  at  the  head  of  Copper  Creek,  a  tributary  of  Kowdy 
Creek,  in  the  mountains  which  reach  an  elevation  of  '2iH)()  feet 
above  sea  level,  twenty  miles  from  Crescent  City,  and  nine 
miles  from  Smith  Kiver,  witli  a  fail"  wagon  road  from  the 
latter  place.  The  formation  consists  principally  of  serpen- 
tine, compact  and  fine  grained  in  the  lower  jiarts.  coarse 
grained  with  bron/.ite  and  hornl)lende  in  the  upper  portions, 
resembling  gabbro.  On  the  surface  it  assumes  a  gray  and 
granular  ap|>earance,  owing  to  the  deterioration  of  the  softer 
minerals  in  its  composition.  The  main  vein  follows  a  ridge 
on  the  east  side  of  Copper  Creek,  course  north  and  south;  dip 
east  45  to  fiO  degrees;  width  4  to  6  feet,  with  considerable 
enlargement  in  i)laces.  Ore.  tine  grained  sulphides,  pyrrho- 
tit<'.  ehalcocite.  bornite,  chalcopyrite,  blackish  green  in  appear- 
ance and  generally  high  grade.  On  this  vein  are  located  the 
principal   mines. 

The  Alta  Group,  consisting  of  two  patented  claims,  and 
the  four  claims  forming  its  southern  extension  (Occidental 
group),  has  been  bonded  to  the  Tnion  Coi)per  .Mining  Com- 


I>i:i,    NOKTK   COITNTY — CH)PPKI{    ("L.M.MS.  I   !( 

I>;iiiy.  wliicli  (iwiis  llic  riiioii  claims  adjoiniiiii'  tlic  ,\lta  »tii 
tin-  north.  At  tilt-  tiiiic  (if  its  srrcatcst  prosperity,  hctwccii 
]S(I(»  and  ISTn.  tin-  mint'  was  t'(|iiipp('<l  with  slcaiii  liuist  ami 
ail'  idiiipfi'ssur :  tlic  incline  was  4'^')  leel  deep  and  had  IHnr 
levels  with  over  IdOO  feet  id'  dfil'ts.  hesides  an  adit  drift 
i-cachini;  tin-  incline  t'roni  Ihe  adjoiinn^'  <rnleh.  A  second  vein, 
east  of  the  main  vein,  was  o|)eni'(l  hy  a  win/.e  hclow  this  di'ifl 
and  ore  of  1.")  to  IS  per  cent  taken  out.  There  was  also  a 
lively  miniiiLT  camp,  .\ltaville.  with  several  hundred  iidiah- 
itants  and  some  suhstantial  ItniJdin^s.  It  has  completely  dis- 
appeared. An  openiiiL;  anions  the  trees  is  all  that  is  left  of 
where  the  town  once  stood,  and  a  few  rusty  iron  holts  and 
charred  timliei-s  indicate  the  site  of  the  shaft  house.  The 
mouth  of  the  incdine  is  caved  in.  i)nt  it  is  believed  that  this 
caving  does  not  extend  fai-  down,  liecause  an  oi'e  i-ai'  dr-opped 
into  the  imdine  hecanie  wcdLred.  forming-  a  iiuhvark  a<rainst 
the  t'allinj;  ground.  On  an  old  map  of  the  mine  of  ISliT.  the 
ore  in  tlie  drifts  ]»elow  the  lii-st  level  is  all  marked  as  carryiuir 
from  10  to  11  per  cent  copper.  Records  of  shipments  made  to 
Swansea  and  <lei-man>'  in  lS(i;{  and  lSfi4  show  returns  of  ^41 
to  ;f;l(>2  |»ei'  ton.  The  company  which  has  the  option  on  the 
mine  inteiuls  to  lirst  open  the  tunnel  fi'om  the  uulch.  hopinjr 
to  find  the  lower  workinfrs  open  to  ])enuit  an  e.xamiiuition. 
<>n  the  norlliefii  extension  of  the  \-ein.  adjoiniuL:  the  Alta. 
the  I'nion  Copper  Mining'  Company.  1.  X.  Tni-ner.  Salt  Lake, 
pi'esidenl.  owns  two  (daiins  and  a  fraction.  :?()()()  Iiy  (iOO 
feet.  On  the  lii-st  (daim.  not  far  fr<ini  the  Alta  line,  a  stron<r 
out<-rop  of  e'ossan  with  some  sulphides  mai'K's  the  coui'se  of 
the  vein  whi(di  can  he  casilv  ti-aced  Ihi'ou^^h  nearl\-  the  entii-e 
leuLTth  of  the  |)roperty  and  has  been  exposed  in  sevci'al  cuts. 
( )ne  cut  on  the  second  claim  shows  oxidi/ed  oi-es,  which  are 
reporte(l  to  assay  2')  pel-  cent  copper.  There  are  two  old 
tunn(ds  on  I'nion  .\d.  1  lunniuir  nearly-  east  and  west  into 
the  mountain.  The  upi)er  tunnel  riuis  strai^dit  'M)()  feet, 
thence  a  drift  with  an  upraise  runs  100  feet  south,  turninu' 
east  ajrain.  and  reaches  the  face  of  the  vein  ixdow  the  gossan 
outerop.  This  part  of  the  workinjrs  has  hadly  caved  and  is 
almost  inaeoessihie.  The  lower  tunnel.  400  feet  farther  north, 
is  4o0  feet  loiifr,  and  from  its  end  a  drift  turns  100  feet  south 
alontr  the  vein.      Tn  this  di-ift  a   winze   has  been  sunk  on   ore 


138  TllK  COPPER  RESOURCES  OP  CALIFORNIA. 

60  feet.  It  li.is  l)c('ii  cleaned  out  jiiid  a  drift  -was  discovered 
in  the  bottom  ruiiiiinji-  south  20  tVct.  It  is  reported  that  4 
f(M't  of  ore  was  found  in  it  assaxinu'  17  ])er  cent  ('o])]ior. 

The  Mammoth  Group  of  fourteen  claims  adjoins  the  Union 
proi)erty  in  the  north;  it  is  owned  by  the  Atlantic  Pacific 
Copper  Company.  II.  F.  Sowers,  president,  Atlantic  City, 
X.  Y.  There  arc  two  old  tunnels  on  the  proixM'ty.  ')()0  aiul 
700  feet  long-. 

Frank  Zaar  owns  four  claims  wesi  of  the  Union,  with  a  •"i'lO- 
foot  tunnel,  and  two  claims  in  llanscom  Camp,  with  a  r)00-foot 
tunnel  and  30-foot  shaft. 

James  Bagley  owns  two  claims  in  the  same  cam]).  \v\\\i  a 
450-foot  tunnel  and  a  caved-in  shaft  in  a  biu'  outcrop  of  iron 
and  sulphides. 

DIAMOND  CREEK  DISTRICT. 

Bear's  Nest  Group. — Eight  cluinis  on  west  side  of  the 
North  Fork  of  Smith  River,  near  the  Oregon  and  California 
state  line;  owned  by  Isaac  Dietrick,  of  Smith  River,  ]Malone 
Bros.,  Mr.  ]\IcNamara  et  al.  Developed  by  a  long  tunnel  and 
open  cuts ;  ore  forming  a  lode  9  feet  in  thickness  and  consist- 
ing of  pyrrhotite  and  other  suli)hides,  with  some  gold  and 
silver. 

Five  Diamonds  Group. — Five  claims,  situated  on  Diamond 
Creek;  owned  by  C.  AV.  Baker,  of  ^Medfoi-d.  Ore^oti.  Harvey 
Colson  et  al. 

Keystone  Group. — Two  claims  situated  on  tlie  North  Fork 
of  Smith  River,  near  the  State  line;  owned  by  Isaac  Dietrick. 
Developed  l)y  short  tunnels  and  open  cuts.  The  formation  is 
serpentine.  The  ores  are  copper  glance,  red  and  black  oxides, 
carbonates  and  native  copper.  Five  tons  of  ore  Avhich  was 
shipped  to  a  reduction  works  had  a  reported  value  of  62  per 
cent  of  copper.     Magnetic  iron   -aUo  n]ipears  in  the  claims. 

McKee  Claims. — Three  or  more  claims  situated  near  the 
mouth  of  Diamond  Creek  on  the  North  Fork  of  Smith  River; 
owned  hv  Simon  AIcKee,  Smith  River. 


DKL    NOKTE   COUNTY COIM'KR    CLAIMS.  130 

SHELLY  CREEK  DISTRICT. 

Alameda  Group.— Two  clainis  on  Shelly  Creek,  one  half 
mile  west  of  station  ;  owne.l  hy  .).  E.  Hill  &  Son,  Shelly  Creek. 
Developed  by  short  tnnnels.  Formation  diorite.  Ores  are 
pyrite  and  ehaleopyrite.  with  quartz  and  waste  matter.  Sul- 
phide values  reported  at  about  :?  per  cent  in  copper,  hut  ore 
is  said  to  carry  considerable  ^^old. 

Call  Group.— Two  claims  on  cast  side  of  Shelly  Creek,  one 
half  mile  east  of  station  :  owned  by  F.  \^.  Edwards.  Developed 
by  tunnels  and  shaft.s.  The  ore  is  pyrrhotite  and  ehaleopyrite, 
formin«r  irrejrular  l)odies  in  serpentine,  and  earryiiii:  some  ^'old. 
Eva  Group.- Three  claims  on  Patrick  Creek,  one  mile 
west  of  Anderson's  station;  owned  by  J.  B.  Hill.  Shelly  Creek, 
ct  al.  Tunnel  with  shafts  and  open  cuts,  (iood  sulphides 
oceur  in  (piartz.    The  lode  is  said  to  be  15  fwt  wide. 

Prudential  Group.— Six  elaims  situated  on  Shelly  Creek. 
one  mile  north  of  Shelly  Creek  station;  owned  by  the  Pru- 
dential :\Iininj?  Company.  II.  S.  Reed.  :Medford.  Or.,  manager. 
Developed  l)y  a  tunnel  and  a  shaft,  with  erosseuts  on  the  lode. 
The  ore  lies  in  two  l)odies  with  north  and  south  strike,  dipping 
east  30  de^^rees.  The  ui)per  vein  has  a  thickness  of  25  feet, 
the  lower  (me  being  still  thicker.  The  ore  is  sulphide  of  iron 
carrying  small  percentages  of  copper  and  ziiu-.  The  chief 
values  are  in  gold  content.  The  lode  has  been  traced  for  more 
than  1(100  feet  on  the  surface. 

Tuesday  Morning  Group. — Elcvcu  claims,  one  and  a  half 
miles  southwest  of  station  on  Slidly  Creek;  owned  by  .1.  E. 
Hill  &  Son.  Carries  some  good  ore,  consisting  of  pyrite  and 
ehaleopyrite.  with  some  gold. 

OTHER  DISTRICTS. 

Del  Norte  Group. — Two  claims  one  mile  north  of  Adams 
station.  Smith  River,  owned  by  Mary  Adams;  good  ore  found, 
consisting  of  sulphides  with  some  magnetic  iron. 

Doctor  Rock  Group.— P'ive  or  more  claims  situated  near 
the  head  of  Blue  Creek,  twenty  miles  north  of  the  Klamath 
River;  owned  by  Thompson  Bros.,  Requa.  Cal..  et  al. 


140  THE  COPPER  RESOURCES  OF  CALIFORNIA. 

Higgins  Mountain  Group. — Five  claims,  situated  on  the 
Siskiyou  Fork  of  Smith  River,  tive  mik's  south  from  mouth 
of  Moukey  Creek;  owued  by  Janu^s  Hiirfrius.  of  Smith  River, 
and  James  White.  Development  work  consists  of  open  euts. 
Ore  consists  of  hifjh-^rade  copix'r  ylanee.  oxides,  and  car- 
bonates, foi'miny  irregular  shoots  in  serpentiIU^ 

Monkey  Creek  Group. — Six  claims,  three  miles  east  from 
the  mouth  of  Monkey  Creek,  on  tlu'  Middle  Fork  of  Smith 
River:  owned  l)y  AV.  L.  IIit;»i:ins  &  Sous,  of  Smith  River. 
Developed  1)\'  short  tunnels  on  opposite  sides  of  the  canyon, 
'^rhe  ore  is  pyrite  and  chalco]\vrite  in  dioritic  rock.  The 
values  of  the  sulphide  are  said  to  i'au»re  from  'A  to  8  per  cent 
in   copper. 


TRINITY  COUNTY. 

Trinity  County  lies  in  the  heart  of  the  Coast  Ranjre.  and 
comprises  a  very  large  portion  of  the  vast  and  sli^rhtly 
developed  mineral  reoion  of  northern  California,  being 
api)roximatel\-  oO  by  100  miles  in  width  aiul  length.  It  lies 
south  of  western  Siskiyou  County,  whose  characteristics  it 
shares,  and  its  eastern  boundary  is  the  sunnnit  line  dividing 
the  watersheds  of  the  Sacramento  River  and  the  direct  Pacific 
sloj^e.  Humboldt  County  separates  it  from  the  sea  on  the 
west.  The  entire  surface  of  the  county  is  mountainous,  is 
l)i'ofusel\-  watered  by  the  Trinity  Ri\t'r  and  its  numerous 
li-il)utaries.  and  is  cjuite  densely  forested.  Owing  t(t  a  remote- 
ness from  railroads,  the  great  natural  resources  are  very 
sliglitly  developed.  The  population  is  s])arse.  The  forests  are 
l)ractically  untouched  by  the  huubei-man.  and  most  of  the 
county  yet  belongs  to  the  public  domain. 

Over  half  the  county  is  mineral-bearing,  and  mining  is 
almost  the  only  industry.  There  is  a  vast  extent  of  auriferous 
gravels  accompanying  the  present  streams  and  also  composing 
high-lying  ridges  and  benches  -which  iiiaik  the  course  of  an 
ancient  river  through  the  luu'thern  and  central  parts  of  the 
county.      The    early    surface    ])lacers.    now    exhausted,    were 


TRINITY    CorSTV.  141 

f.\<'('C(liri!;ly  rich,  aiui  ;i1  ;iii  ciirly  clay  tlic  old  ni'avd  (Ifpitsils 
rct'crrrd  to.  in  places  hiiiulrcds  of  feet  (icc]).  hciriiii  to  Ix'  iiiiiii'd 
l>v  the  hydraulic  pi'occss.  Kor  iiiaii.\'  years  hxdraidic  iiiiniiii:' 
has  hern  1  he  chief  form  u|'  I  he  inilnst  ry  in  Trinity  ( 'oniity.  and. 
since  the  h'lzal  I'estrict  ion  of  hydi-aulie  uiininL;  on  the  Siei-ra 
slope,  the  larirest  hydianlic  ()|)ei-at  ions  of  Aiiici'ica  have  l)ecn 
those  l).v  the  Trinit.x.  iieai'  .luiiction  ('it>.  As  the  Trinit.\' 
and  Klamath  ai-e  not  navi^'ahle.  hydraulic  minirm'  is  here 
uidiampei'ed  l)y  law.  and  extensive  new  entei"|)rises  ai'e  under 
way.  Lar^'e  iri'avel  deposits  are  favorably  situated  foi"  u'old 
di'ed,Lrin»r.  which  is  assuming;   importance  in  this  coun1\'. 

Quart/.  iiiiniuL;-  has  hej;un  to  make  iicneral  progress.  A  lunii- 
hcr  of  important  iidid  mines  liave  been  develoiXMJ  in  the  past, 
notably  the  lirown  Ucai'  at  Deadwood.  which  is  reported  to 
have  pi-oduced  .j;(i.( )()().( )()().  Ill  numerous  lai'i;!'  (|uai'1/.  miiiiiii: 
districts  valuable  mines  have  been  developed,  and  there  is  much 
inininsi-  activity  in  spite  of  the  han(lica[)  of  .")()  to  1(10  miles 
distance  from  railroad  facilities.  Like  Siskiyou  County,  this  is 
an  ideal  field  foi'  the  pi'ospect(W.  ()iie  of  the  most  important 
cpneksilvei'  mines  ol'  the  Stale,  the  Altoona.  has  but  recently 
entered  a  loni;  productive  career.  This  is  the  chief  i)latinum- 
producinir  county  of  the  State. 

The  copper  |»i'ospects  of  Trinity  ("ount\'  are  pei'haps  moi'e 
widely  scattered  than  those  of  an\'  othei'  county  in  northeni 
California.  They  may  be  Lirouped.  howevei'.  in  ihree  districts. 
or  belts,  all  of  which  are  essentially  areas  of  pei'idotite.  Few 
<tf  the  pi'ospeets  are  of  ver_\-  ureal  mauiiitude.  and  most  of 
them  are  too  inaccessible  for  pi-esent  economical  working'. 
Still,  some  of  the  p?'os|)ects  contain  ore  of  hitih  f^rade.  and  at 
least  one  of  them  has  supplied  i-ennnierat  i\'e  sliii)m<'nts  of  (U'e. 
The  districts  may  be  desi^qiated  as  the  South  Foi'k.  the  New 
River,  and  the  Trinit.v  Fork. 

The  South  h'ork  district  includes  a  iinmbcr  of  scattered 
prospects  lyinii-  to  the  cast  of  the  Sontli  Foi-k  of  Trinity 
Kivei-.  I)e1ween  Ilyampdiiic  \'alley  and  Kail  Icsnake  Cn'ck. 
The  .\ew  River  district  includes  a  few  pi-osi)ects  on  the  various 
branches  of  New  Kivci-.  some  of  which  have  consideral»le 
merit,  and  if  they  were  more  accessible  would  no  doubt 
alread\-  have  been  worked.     Tlie  Trinit\-  Fork  district  includes 


142  THE  COPPER  RESOURCES  OF  CALIFORNIA. 

the   copper   prospects   to  the  north   of   Trinity    Center,    near 
Carrville.  and  alon<j  the  main  l)ranch  of  Trinity  Kiver. 

The  expense  of  workinj;  these  prospects  is  apparent  when 
it  is  remembered  that  the  ordinary  frei^rht  rates  from  AVeaver- 
ville  or  Trinity  Center  to  Redding'  approach  i|?lo  per  ton, 
wliile  the  added  cost  from  the  mines  to  these  points  is  often 
large.  In  spite,  therefore,  of  the  natural  advantages  of  timber 
and  water  power,  eopper  mining  in  Trinity  County  has  not 
yet  progre.ssed  very  far.  The  principal  copper  prospects  of 
the  county  are  the  following: 

SOUTH  FORK  DISTRICT. 

Cold  Creek  Group. — Seven  claims  on  the  Cold  Fork  of 
Indian  Valley  Creek;  owned  l)y  J.  R.  Bloom  and  D.  T.  Goe, 
Hyampome.  The  country  is  exceedingly  rugged.  The  forma- 
tion is  serpentine  and  diorite.  The  ore  occurs  in  small  bodies 
or  bunches,  consisting  of  (juartz  carrying  some  sulphide,  not 
of  high  grade.  Open  cuts  constitute  the  present  develop- 
ment.    Water  power  and  timber  are  plentiful. 

Lambert  Group. — Three  locations  on  the  South  Fork  of 
Trinity  River,  near  the  mouth  of  Rattlesnake  Creek;  owned  by 
Wa.shington  Lambert  &  Sons.  Ilay  Fork.  Ore  forming  small 
veins  of  ehalcopyrite  and  pyrite  in  diorite.  Developed  by 
short  tunnels  and  shaft ;  sulphide  of  good  grade. 

Lone  Pine  Group. — Two  claims  situated  in  section  19, 
township  1  north,  range  8  east.  Humboldt  meridian,  near  the 
mouth  of  Rattlesnake  Creek;  owned  by  David  Murphy  and 
Minnie  B.  Murphy.  Blocksburg.  Ore  contains  some  sulphide, 
and  occurs  in  diorite. 

Maddox  Group. — Three  claims  on  Cold  Fork  of  Indian 
Valley  Creek;  owned  by  A.  L.  AFaddox.  Hay  Fork.  The  for- 
mation is  diorite  and  serpentine.  The  ore  occurs  in  small 
bodies  apparently,  although  l)ut  little  work  has  been  done  to 
show  its  extent.  The  ore  consists  of  oxides,  carbonates,  and 
sulphides  carrying  some  gold,  and  is  said  to  carry  from  5  to 
3U  per  cent  of  eo])per. 

Murphy. — Two  or  more  claims  in  section  36,  town.ship  1 
north,  range  7  east.  ITunilioldt  meridian:  owned  l\v  Minnie  B. 


TRINITY   COrXTV — COPPER   CLAIMS.  143 

.Miirpliy  and  Daviil  Mur|iliy.  lilncksbiir^'.  Dovelopfd  liv  tlircc 
shafts  and  a  liiimcl  soiiif  hiiiidr«Hls  of  ftH't  loii}^.  Tlic  I'oniia- 
tioii  is  scipciitiiir,  and  llic  oi'f  occurs  in  veins  of  white  felds- 
pathic  rock  canx  inu'  a  little  hij^h-grade  oxides,  cai-honates, 
and   sulphide. 

Pattie. — ThiTf  claims  in  t(i\\iislii|)  1  soulli.  ran^e  7  east. 
lluiiilMildl   nicfidiaii:  owned   l>y   Win.   I'attie.  llay  Fork. 

Vine  Oak  Group. — Two  i-lainis  in  sections  2  and  ^^),  lowji- 
ship  1  nortli  ami  1  south.  lanLi'e  7  east.  IIuinl)ol(lt  meridian; 
owned  by  ha  1*.  ('ollins.  llay  h'ork.  Some  developuKMil  work 
has  lnnMi  done.  The  ore  is  of  lair  iicade.  l)Ut  in  small  bodies 
as  shown  at  prrsrnt.  The  country  rock  is  dioi-itc;  the  ore 
cai-rie.s  some  ^'old. 

Extensive  placer  minin<,'  was  carried  ou  iu  the  early  days 
on  the  bars  and  tributaries  of  New  River  and  it  is  still  the 
most  imjiortant  industiw  in  this  part  of  the  country,  althouirli 
lode  mininLT  has  made  trreat  pi'o^ress  within  the  last  few  years. 
All  the  veins,  perhaps  with  thi'  exception  of  a  few  claims  on 
P^ast  Fork,  were  oriiriindly  worketl  I'oi-  their  ^^old  values  only, 
and  no  attempt  was  made  to  save  the  copper,  of  which  a 
certain  amount  is  found  in  all  the  ores.  Recently,  however, 
this  metal  has  attracted  more  attention  and  has  become  itself 
the  object  of  prosjiect intr. 

NEW  RIVER  DISTRICT. 

Granite  Group. — Sexcn  claims  on  (^>uind)y  Creek,  six  nnles 
altove  its  mouth;  owned  by  V.  ( ".  I'atton.  Fi'aiik  Evans  et  al.. 
Weavei-ville.  The  ore  occurs  in  serpentine  and  slate  at  inter- 
vals aloiiL;  the  entii-e  chain  of  claims.  Oidy  a  little  develof)- 
ment  wiu'k  has  yet  hetii  done,  thoujih  jrood  oi-e  is  found  and 
in  considei-altic  (|uaidit\'.  Some  of  the  ore  has  a  value  of  25 
per  lent  in  (•oi)|»cr.  with  some  irold.  Facilities  for  minin*;  are 
good. 

Nonpareil  Group. — Four  claims  on  the  East  Fork  of  New 
River,  four  nnles  above  the  mouth;  owned  by  C.  S.  ^leAtes. 
ReddiuLT.  The  lode  varies  in  width  fr'om  1  to  14  feet,  but  is 
not  traced  for  a  ^'reat  distance.  One  tunnel  on  the  property 
is  25  feet  in  lentrth.     Th<'  cT'opjnn<rs  of  irossan  are  said  to  occur 


144  THE  COPPER  RE!>OURCES  OK  CALIKUKNIA. 

alonfj  the  strike  of  the  loch'  for  one  mih*.     The  average  value  of 
the  ore  is  saiil  to  he  al)out  8  per  eeiit  eopper. 

The  Bear  Tooth  Mining  Company,  Frank  P.  Hurris.  presi- 
dent, (^uinhy  post  office,  owns  ciyht  claims  on  the  east  side 
of  New  Rivei".  at  an  elevation  of  2()00  feet  above  sea  level. 
It  is  claimed  that  fonr  veins,  from  1  to  4  feet  wide,  are  on 
the  gronnd,  running'  parallel  sonth  by  10  dejrrees  east,  noi-tli 
by  10  degrees  west,  bnt  all  the  development  work  has  been 
done  on  one  vein.  The  upper  tunnel.  110  feet  in.  cuts  the  vein 
not  far  below  its  outcrop;  the  second  tunnel  of  125  feet  is 
about  :^00  feet  lower,  and  a  third  one,  120  feet  in.  has  been 
started  400  feet  below  its  apex.  The  foot  wall  is  formed  by  a 
coarse  hornblende  rock,  probably  gabbro;  the  hangiuir  wall 
by  a  dark,  fine-grained  rock,  apparently  an  altered  serpentine. 
The  ore  is  o\'  a  complex  character,  sulphide  of  Iinui  and  cop{)er, 
and  probably  arsenides,  manganese,  etc.,  in  a  gangue  of  (piartz. 
In  the  upper  part  of  the  vein  the  ore  is  oxidi/ed  and  less 
refractory,  liesides  the  oxide  of  iron  and  car])()nate.s  of  copper, 
chalcanthite.  or  sulphate  of  co])per,  occurs  in  the  vein  in  con- 
siderable (piantities.  These  ores  were  treated  in  a  one-stamp 
Xis.sen  iiiill.  wliich  was  replaced  1)\'  a  Ilinitini:ton  mill  of  8 
tons  capaci1.\-.    The  ore  shows  considerable  free  gold  in  panning. 

The  Birdie  Mining  Group. — Six  claims:  owned  l)y  II.  .\ona- 
maker  and  W.  11.  Ilanunond.  Quinby  post  office.  A  Hat  xciu. 
1  to  2  feet  thick,  running  east  and  west.  Sulphide  of  iron  and 
little  copper  in  (|uart/.  gangue  rock.  The  sui'face  ore  was 
treated  in  a  stamp  mill. 

The  Quinby  Mining  Company,  owns  six  claims  on  Quinby 
Creek.  A  vein  4  to  5  feet  wide,  east  l)y  north  10  degrees,  west 
t»\-  south  10  degrees,  has  been  opened  l)y  two  tunnels,  tlie  ui)per 
one  100  feet  h)ng.  with  200  feet  of  drifts;  the  lower  one.  120 
feet  below.  400  feet  long.  Ore  (piartz  gangiu'  with  sulphide 
of  iron  and  copper,  oxidizeil  in  the  upper  jnirts  and  carrying 
sulphate  of  copper.  Owing  to  the  difficulty  of  transportation, 
each  stamp  has  a  separate  mortar. 

The  Big  Buck  Claim,  adjoining,  owned  by  11.  Xonamaker, 
shows  some  copper  eai'lxinate  and  sulphate  in  a  20-foot  shaft. 
The  veins  on  these  two  properties  aic  in  ])orpliyi'y.  (Quinby 
Creek  is  a  tributarv  of  New  River  on  the  west,  and  crossing  the 


TKIMTV    COl  NTV — COPPER    CLAIMS.  145 

dividi'  ;il  its  lirjid  is  locatctl  tlic  Horse  Linto  claim.     Two  open 
cuts  ill  ;iii  ii'mi  oiitfrop  show  sdiiic  |)\  rite  of  iron. 

The  Last  Chance  Group,  *m  I'antlicr  Crcok,  sliow.s  u  largo 
L'ossaii  oul('ro|).  I'liiiiiiiiLr  <'ast  ami  west.  A  tiinnol  has  eiiterod 
a  body  of  irctii  sulphide  with  some  copper. 

Discoveries  of  copper  are  reported  from  Ilyampom,  between 
Smith  and  Hay  l-'orU.  of  TiMiiity  River,  and  it  is  stated  that 
veins  carrying  chalcopyritc  have  Ix-cn  located. 


TRINITY  FORK  DISTRICT. 

Cinderella  Group. — Two  claims  in  section  D,  lowiisliip  37 
north,  range  7  west.  Mount  Diablo  mei'idian;  owned  by  1*.  A. 
"Wagner  and  E.  A.  Wagner.  Carrville.  Developed  ])\  300  feet 
of  tunnels  and  a  shaft  .")()  feet  deep.  The  vein  is  reported  to 
be  Id  feet  in  width.  The  country  rock  is  serpentine.  Some 
of  the  ore  i-anies  Id  per  cent  of  copper.  This  property  joins 
the  Copper  (^iiceii  on  tiie  north. 

Copper  Button  Group. — Two  or  more  claims  located  in 
.section  3().  township  :',!  ikhiIi.  i;iiil:c  7  west,  jMount  Diablo 
meridian;  owned  l)y  Jl.  Z.  Osboi'iic.  of  Los  Angeles,  and 
Thomas  Jiaker.  Dcn-eloped  by  short  tunnels  and  opiMi  cuts. 
Ore  occurs  in  connection  with  dikes  of  quart/  porphyry  in 
serpentine.  ;uid  consists  of  oxides,  carbonates,  and  sulphides. 
It  is  a|»parently  of  high  grade. 

Copper  Queen  Group. — Three  or  iiioi-e  claims  situated  in 
section  Hi.  township  37  iiorlli.  i-;iiil;c  7  west,  Blount  Diablo 
meridian;  leased  by  George  H.  Fitch.  Jvedding.  This  property 
is  developed  by  tunnels  and  a  shaft.  The  formation  is  serpen- 
tine. 'J'he  ore  consists  of  the  o.xidcs  and  carbonates  of  copper, 
with  a  little  sulphid(>  at  the  lower  levels. 

Crown  Point  Group. — Three  (daims  in  section  18.  town.ship 
37  north,  range  7  west.  .Mount  Diablo  meridian;  owned  by 
George  L.  Carr,  Carrville.  and  others.  The  ore  body  is  said 
to  be  very  wide  and  to  be  otherwise  extensive. 

Eureka  Group. — Two  claims  in  sections  17  and  18.  town- 
ship 37  north,  range  7  west,  ]\rount  Diablo  meridian;  owned 
by  H.  F.  Dimock,  of  Carrville,  and  L.  :\I.  Iloefler  et  al.     The 
10— BuL.  50 


146  THE  COPPER  RESOURCES  OP  CALIFORNIA. 

ore  is  silicious.  earryinjr  a  small  peropnta,<ro  of  eojijicr  snlpliide. 
The  i)i'()i)('rty  lias  50  feet  of  tunnel. 

LeBlanc  Claim. — One  elaini  on  the  soiilh  side  of  Copper 
Ci'eek  n<'ai-  Cari'ville;  owned  by  George  LeBlane.  Carrville. 
Only  small  amount  of  development;  ore  similar  to  that  of  the 
Copper  Queen. 

Shoemaker  Claim. — One  claim  on  p]ast  Fork  of  Ti-inity 
River:  owned  hy  Ed  Shoemaker,  Trinity  Center. 

Maitland  Claim. — One  or  more  claims  on  Tvamsliorn  Creek, 
ten  miles  iioit heist  of  Carrville;  owned  by  William  ^Nfaitland. 
Abrams. 

OTHER  DISTRICTS. 

Jackson  &  Carter  Group. — Four  claims  in  section  29,  eight 
miles  southeast  of  Ilay  Fork;  owned  by  (J.  W.  Carter  and 
James  Jackson,  Hay  Fork.  Developed  t)\  shaft  40  feet  deep. 
The  lode  is  said  to  be  10  to  12  feet  wide,  bul  not  traced  for  a 
great  distance  in  length.  Samples  of  the  sulphide  ore  have 
assayed  10  per  cent  <tr  more  in  cojiper.  with  some  g<dd  and 
silver. 

Fortuna  Group. — Consists  of  nineteen  claims  of  unpatented 
land;  owned  by  the  Fortuna  Mining  Company.  C.  Sweet,  presi- 
dent. Fortuna.  Situated  five  miles  from  Humboldt  County 
line,  thii'ty  miles  from  Hridgeville.  Small  amount  of  develop- 
ment, but  shows  conspicuous  gossan  croppings;  accessible  from 
Fortuna,  Humboldt  County.  This  property  is  near  the  Copper 
Queen  group,  near  the  head  of  Van  Duzeu  River. 

Iron  Mountain  Claim. — Consists  of  one  claim,  situated 
three  miles  southeast  of  the  Copper  Queen,  near  the  head  of 
Van  Duzen  Creek;  developed  only  by  open  cuts;  some  hnv- 
grade  carbonate  ore  exposed.  Owned  by  Turner  &  Co.,  Dyer- 
ville,  Humboldt  County. 

Copper  Queen  Group. — Consists  of  six  claims,  situated  in 
sections  10  and  11.  townshij)  1  south,  range  6  east.  Hum- 
boldt meridian,  and  thirty-five  miles  southeast  of  Bridge- 
ville,  Humboldt  County ;  owned  by  Joseph  Hutchens.  Anada, 
Trinity  County.  Developed  by  one  40-foot  tunnel  and  some 
open  cuts.  Sulphide  ore  has  been  encountered  in  the  tunnel. 
and  gossan  croppings  are  abundant. 


CROPPIXGS    r,(i    VKKT    WIIU:.    ISI.AXI)    MOrXTAlX    i'i)1'I'I:K    MIX!-: 


CROPPINGS    130   FEET   WIDE.    ISLAXD   MOUNTAIN   COPPER  MINE. 


148  THE  COIM'KK  RESOTRCErt  OF  CALIFORXIA. 

Black  Palangus  Group. — Situated  in  sct-tion  36,  townsliip  1 
uortli.  I'iin.tit'  (i  east.  Iliiiiiboklt  meridian;  owned  by 
Joseph  Iluteliens  and  l)i-()thers,  Anad.i.  Ti'inity  County. 
Developed  by  open  cut  60  feet  long,  showing  good  copper  ore, 
some  of  it  reported  to  assay  17  per  cent  copper.  Croppings 
are  bold,  and  al)Out  20  feet  in  width.  This  property  is  one 
mile  east  of  the  (\)i)per  Queen  uroup. 

Island  Mountain  Consolidated  Copper  Mine. — This  impor- 
tant l)iit  slighth'  developed  j)ropert\',  with  its  (juite  remarkable 
outcroppings,  is  situated  ninety  miles  north  of  Tkiah.  just 
over  the  Mendocino  County  line.  It  lies  by  Eel  River,  in 
sections  9,  10,  and  15,  townsliip  5  south,  range  6  east,  Hum- 
boldt meridian,  in  tlie  Horseshoe  district,  and  compri.ses 
seven  claims — the  Leach,  Shotgun,  Annex,  Island  Mountain, 
Merritt,  Gore,  and  Day.  The  development  work  consists  of 
one  crosscut  tunnel  running  north  490  feet,  one  running  on 
the  vein  northwest  40  feet,  and  several  open  cuts  across  the 
outcrop.  The  croppings  can  be  traced  for  800  feet,  and  are 
in  places  130  feet  wide.  The  vein  has  a  northwest  and  south- 
east trend.  The  southeast  end  line  starts  on  the  north  bank 
of  Eel  River,  and  the  claims  extend  northwest  diagonally  across 
Lake  ^lountain  to  the  south  bank  of  Eel  River,  the  river 
nuiking  a  horseshoe  bend.  The  vein  is  capped  witli  large 
bowlders  containing  mucli  copper  aiul  iron  sulphides.  Slides 
have  occurred,  and  many  l)owlders  have  foiuid  tlieir  way  to 
the  river  bed,  a  distance  of  500  to  700  feet.  One  bowlder, 
imbedded  about  100  feet  north  of  the  river  bank,  is  60  feet 
across  the  base,  and  is  estimated  to  contain  4500  tons  of  copper 
sulpliide  ore.  Large  bowlders  have  accumulated  along  the 
nortli  l)ank  of  Eel  River  for  500  feet,  and  one  weighing  160 
pounds  is  reported  to  have  yielded  10  ounces  in  gold.  5  ounces 
in  silver,  and  4V2  per  cent  in  copjier  per  ton.  The  long  tunnel 
was  started  50  feet  north  of  the  river  bank,  and  extended  across 
the  country  lock  490  feet  with  the  view  of  cutting  the  vein. 
This  work  was  done  in  1899,  by  the  London  Exploration  Com- 
pany. No  tim])ers  were  put  in.  The  rains  made  the  ground 
heavy  and  the  tunnel  caved  at  several  ])laces.  In  1900  the 
shorter  tunnel  was  run  40  feet,  and  its  face  was  in  solid  sulphide 
ore.  As  far  as  the  vein  is  exposed  on  the  level,  it  has  the 
appearance  of  dipping  into  the  mountain  at  a  very  low  angle. 


Z'\\f< 


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JT>T. 


M/JP  or  THE 

/SUIND  MOUAfTfltf^  COAISOUOflTSD  COPPFfi  M/NCS 

T/^INITY    COUNTY   C^L. 
3£m«  fvtftr  a«-  Sg-cnoMS  3^fO^ IS  - 


liOWLDKR  OK  ("OIM'iOR  OHIO  00   I'lOKT  ACKOSS   BASK.   30    KKIOT   DliKP, 

25    KEET   At'ROSS   TOP.    ISLAND   MOrXTAIN   COPrKK 

MINK.   TRINITY  COUNTY. 


BOWLDERS    OF    COPPER    ORE    ON    NORTH    BANK    OF    EEL    RIVER,  , 
FROM  OUTCROP  500   FEET   DISTANT.   ISLAND  MOUN- 
TAIN COPPER  MINE.  TRINITY  COUNTY. 


1  "^-^ 


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nowLDKR  OK  roi'i'KH  OKI-:  CO  i"i:i:t  Aciioss  bask,  :!(i  kkkt  ijkki', 

25    KKET   ACROSS   TOP.    ISLANO   Mol'NTAIX    COPPER 
MINE.   TRINITY  COl'NTV. 


BOWLDERS    OF    COPPER    ORE    OX    NORTH    BANK    OF    EEL,    RIVER,  . 
FROM  OL'TCROP  500   FEF:T   DISTANT.  ISLAND  MOUN- 
TAIN COPPER  MINE.  TRINITY  COUNTY. 


150  THE  COPPER  RESOURCES  OF  CALIFORNIA. 

The  eoimlry  iHtck  on  the  hanging  wall  is  soft  sandstone  and 
the  foot  wall  calcareous  shale.  Several  trenches  from  3  to  5 
feet  deep  have  been  made  across  the  outcrop,  northwest  of 
llic  4!)()-f()nt  lunncl,  showing  the  croppiugs  to  be  from  60  to 
130  feet  wide.  The  water  running  from  the  tunnel  is  highly 
impregnated  with  copper.  The  elevation  at  the  mouth  of  the 
long  tunnel  is  1300  feet,  and  on  Lake  IMountain,  where  the 
croppiugs  cross,  1700  feet.  The  country  rock  to  the  north, 
down  the  sloi)e  of  Lake  ^Mountain,  is  composed  of  serpentine 
and  sandstone.  Island  IMountain  is  on  the  south  side  of  Eel 
River  and  directly  crjiposite  the  claims.  Owner,  Island  ]\Ioun- 
tain  Consolidated  Copper  Ccmipany.  San  Francisco. 


HUMBOLDT  COUNTY. 


Tlie  scattered  copper  deposits  of  the  Coast  Range  extend,  to 
a  slightly  known  degree,  into  the  coast  county  of  Ilumlioldt. 
which  stretches  for  about  100  miles  along  the  ocean  shore  soutli 
of  Del  Norte  and  reaches  30  to  40  miles  eastward  into  the 
mountains  to  adjoin  Trinity  Coiinly.  This  county,  chietiy 
famed  for  its  redwood  liiiuhci'  and  dairy  industries,  is  one  of 
the  minor  mineral-producing  counties  of  the  State,  thouuh  it 
has  extensive  undeveloped  mineral  resources.  For  forty  years 
it  has  held  out  the  promise  of  showing  a  large  aiul  valuable 
oil  field  neighl)oring  the  ocean,  and  on  its  shores  has,  since 
early  days,  hecn  the,  chief  scene  of  lieach  placer  mining  on  the 
Pacific  coast.  It  has  numerous  coal  deposits  of  prospective 
value.  Along  the  Klamath,  at  the  nortliern  end,  some  hydraulic 
and  other  placer  mining  operations  have  proceeded  for  a  great 
many  years. 

A  large  portion  of  the  county.  end)raced  in  its  eastern  pai't. 
is  mineralized  and  depends  niaiiily  on  its  minerals  for  what- 
ever future  industrial  (.levelopment  it  may  know.  Low-grade 
auriferous  veins  oeciir.  This  eastern  portion  of  the  county, 
throughout  its  length,  is  in  general  nnich  broken,  unsettled, 
remote,  difficult  of  access,  and  little  exi)lored  for  minerals.  It 
is  densely  forested,  is  full  of  streams,  and  being  on  the  western 


JILMHOI-DT    COLNTY — COIM'KK    CLAIMS.  151 

slope,  has  a  lieavy  rainfall.  Tliese  and  other  characteristics  it 
shares  with  western  Trinity.  The  mountainous  ea.stern  portion 
is  p(M»r]\-  s\ipplir(l  witii  roads  and  trails. 

It  is  in  a  rejrion  <'i"  this  nature  tiuit  Humboldt's  known 
copper  deposits  occur,  and  in  their  kind  and  oeeurrenee  they 
resemble  those  of  Del  Norte  and  Ti-inity  counties.  The  copper 
elaims  now  held  may  l)e  o:rouped  in  tliree  districts.  The  best 
known  are  in  the  extreme  northern  part  near  the  Klaiiiatli 
Kiver.  At  the  head  of  Red  Cap  Creek,  south  of  the  river  and 
on  a  hiiili  i-idiie.  are  copper  indications  which  have  caused 
considerabh'  expenditure  in  i)rospectin^:  in  the  i)ast.  I.ai-iie 
pieces  of  boi-nite  and  luitive  copper  occur  as  th)at.  North  of 
the  river,  near  the  headwaters  of  Camp  Creek,  lar^^e  bodies  of 
h)w-<rrade  ore  are  reported.  Well  toward  the  southeastern 
portion  of  the  county,  in  the  neii^hborhood  of  Lasseck  Peak, 
are  extensive  surface  showin<:s  of  copper  ores.  This  is  north- 
west of  tlie  Mad  Kiver  district  acro.ss  the  line  in  Trinity  County. 
West  of  Lasseck  Peak,  and  not  far  from  tlie  coast,  are  -iroups 
of  claims  showing:  carbonates  and  but  slight  development.  The 
leading'  copper  properties  of  these  disti-icts  are  noted. 

Red  Cap.— This  ]iroperty  consists  of  7uM  acres  in  section 
2!J,  township  10  north,  rantze  6  east,  Humboldt  meridian.  U 
is  situated  sixty-seven  mih's  northeast  from  Eureka,  and  is 
reached  by  i-aiii-oad  twenty  miles  to  I'.hie  Lake,  tlience  seven- 
teen miles  to  Blairs  by  wa.mm  road,  and  tlience  thirty  miles 
by  pack  trail.  In  the  year  18S()  considerable  work  was  done 
nil  thi'  proi.erty  in  niiiniii-;-  tuiniels.  Muiiy  specimens  of  native 
copper  have  been  found  at  the  base  of  the  mountain  in  Boise 
and  Red  Cap  creeks.  The  contact  is  very  prominent  for  the 
entire  len«:th  of  property,  serpentine  beimj:  tlie  foot  wall  and 
(liorite  beiiiir  exposed  on  the  haiiLiin^-  wall.  Abundance  of 
timber  and  wood  is  irrowin^^  on  the  ])roperty.  Red  Cap  and 
Boise  creeks  afford  plenty  of  water  for  all  practical  use..  The 
elevation  at  the  ba.se  of  the  mountain  is  450  feet,  and  on  the 
ridge,  where  the  contact  is  pnmiinent,  2150  feet.  The  strike 
of  the  contact  is  north.  On  the  west  side  of  the  contact,  slides 
have  taken  place  for  several  hundred  feet  down  the  mountain, 
and  evidently  the  rich  float  that  has  been  found  on  Red  Cap 
and  Boise  creeks  came  with  the  .slides.    Orleans  Bar.  the  nearest 


l52  TITE  COPPF.R  KKSOT'RCKS  Oi'  CAI-IFORXIA. 

post  office,  is  seven  miles  distant.     Owners,  J.  R.  Dollison,  of 
the  Enreka  Bank,  and  others,  Eureka,  llnnil)()ldt  County. 

La  Perin  Group. — loins  llic  Red  Cap  iniiir  (ui  tlic  iiortli, 
disphiys  same  formation,  and  consists  of  ten  mineral  locaCiotis 
on  tlie  strike  of  the  contact,  which  is  iKntli.  Owner,  J.  La 
Perin,  Orleans  Bar,  Humboldt  County. 

Red  Lasseck. — Situated  seven  miles  southwest  of  the 
Copper  Queen  o:roui)  in  Trini1\'  County,  in  township  1  south, 
range  4  east,  Humboldt  nicriilian,  and  is  on  the  south  side  of 
Lassen  Creek,  at  an.  elevation  of  5800  feet.  The  croppin^s 
appear  of  an  oxide  nature,  I'eported  to  yield  0  per  cent  in 
eopjier.  The  formation  of  both  walls  is  sei-pentine.  Tlie 
property  can  be  reached  over  a  trail  from  Bl()cksl)ur^',  Hum- 
boldt County,  a  distance  of  seven  miles.  Owners.  C.  B.  Bulger 
and  others.  Anada.  Trinity  County. 

Rainbow  Group. — This  property,  consisting  of  nin(^teen 
claims,  is  situated  in  the  Mattole  mining  district,  sixt\'  miles 
south  of  Eureka,  in  sections  19,  30,  and  32,  township  1  south, 
range  1  east;  also  in  sections  12  and  19,  township  1  south. 
range  1  west.  The  seacoast  is  fourteen  miles  west.  The  Eureka 
and  Eel  River  Railroad  rims  to  within  thii'ty  miles  of  Scotia. 
About  the  center  of  these  claims  an  o])en  cut  has  been  extended 
60  feet  across,  the  vein  nuittei-  showing  carbonate  ore  in  many 
places  in  the  cut.  Several  trenches  on  the  outcrop  show  the 
same  character  of  ore  for  sev(n"al  hundred  feet  along  the  strike 
of  the  croppings.  On  the  north  end  of  this  proj)erty  a  creek, 
tributary  to  Bear  River,  runs  diagonally  across  the  property, 
and  has  cut  a  deep  gorge  through  the  veins,  showing  carbonates 
somewhat  extensively  100  feet  in  width.  Wood  and  water 
are  plentiful.  The  property  is  owned  by  an  incorporated  com- 
pany (C.  S.  Taylor  president,  and  H.  L.  Ford  secretary)  of 
Eureka,  Humboldt  Co\uity. 

Crismon  Group. — Consists  of  80  acres  of  ]ia tented  land; 
joins  the  Raiid)ow  group  of  mines  on  the  south,  and  is  in 
section  8,  township  2  south,  range  1  east,  Humboldt  meridian. 
Several  prospect  holes  have  been  sunk  at  intervals  over  the  80 
acres,  and  carbonate  ore  has  been  found.  The  same  situation 
prevails  as  at  the  Rainbow  group  as  to  wood,  timber,  and  water. 
A.  H.  Crismon  &  Son,  owners,  Pepperwood,  Humboldt  County. 


IIIMBOLDT    COUNTY — COPPER   CLAIMS.  153 

HORSE  MOUNTAIN  DISTRICT. 

A  tow  yi'jirs  airt*  coppt-r  \v;is  (liscdvcrcd  oii  llorsc  .Mountaiii. 
in  tlie  Iloopa  Kaii^M".  wliioli  roniis  the  watershed  hetwei'ii  Red 
Wood  Creek  and  the  Trinity  River.  The  new  di.striet  lies  in 
township  (j  north,  rjintre  4  east,  on  the  dividiiiir  rid<.M'  l)etween 
Red  Wood  Creek  and  Willow  Ci-eek.  which  attains  an  eleva- 
ti<»n  of  nearly  5000  feet  above  sea  level.  The  formation  is 
slate,  serpentine,  and  Kal>h''o.  the  latter  forming  the  crest  of 
the  mountain,  and  porphyry  in  places.  For  miles  alonf;  the 
ridire,  near  the  contact  of  the  serpentine  and  ,i,'a])hro.  indica- 
tions of  copper  ai"e  found  in  the  iron-stained  formation,  the 
color  of  the  oxides,  sul[)hides,  and  snudl  seams  of  cuprite  and 
chalcocite. 

The  Copper  Glance  Group,  of  twenty-six  claims,  is  owned 
by  J).  Wil.sun,  of  Korbel,  and  Dr.  W.  L.  Perrot  et  al..  of 
Eureka,  who  established  a  camp  and  started  a  tunnel,  intended 
to  cut  ^a  fifossan  outcrop  ninninu  north  55  degrees  west. 

Adjoining  in  the  north  lies  the  liliiid  Lead  group  of  fifteen 
claims,  owned  by  1).  AVil^on  and  E.  .\.  Walker,  of  Eureka. 
Indications  of  copper  are  found  in  niany  placets. 

Rich  float  and  ore  were  found  on  the  eastern  slope  of 
the  mountain,  a  short  distance  l)elow  the  summit,  on  a  group 
of  fourteen  claims  owned  by  George  Henderson.  ?]ureka.  Fine 
specimens  of  cuprite,  copper  glanee.  anil  native  coppei-  were 
found,  of  the  latter  a  piece  weighing  over  400  pounds,  which 
had  to  be  broken  up  before  it  could  be  transported.  So  far, 
the  source  of  this  float  has  not  been  discovered,  but  several 
surface  deposits  of  copper  glance  have  been  found  from  which 
enough  ore  was  shipped,  according  to  tlie  owner's  statement,  to 
l)ay  for  all  improvements,  which  include  several  oi>en  cuts,  a 
well-e()uip|)ed  camj*  and  a  180-foot  tunnel.  The  copper  glance 
occurs  in  form  of  impregnated  ore  deposits,  in  the  serjXMitine. 
without  any  indication  of  vein  formation,  except  that  tlie.x' 
are  found  on  the  same  level  in  a  general  direction  southeast- 
northwest. 

I.  Charles  l^lake.  post  office  Korbel,  owns  four  and  a  half 
claims  ad.joining  the  preceding  group,  with  an  ii-on  outcroi> 
running  southeast-northwest.  On  this  property  a  small  deposit 
of  pure  copper  glance  of  the  same  character  was  opened  up  by 
an  open  cut  without  a  vein  being  found. 


154 


THE  COPPER  RESOURCES  OK  CALIFORNIA. 


E.  1*.  Sliyer,  Eureka,  has  located  two  claims  continuous  in 
tlu'  saiiu'  direction,  and  found  the  same  kind  of  ore  in  a  shallow 
excavation. 


COPPER    BOWLDERS    AT    PATRICK    POINT,    HUMBOLDT    COUNTY. 

An    interesting    discovery    "vvas    made    at    Patrick's    Point, 
ahout  six  miles  mirth  of  Trinidad.     1).  W.   Stapp.  of  Santa 


TKHAMA.    CLKNN.    AND    COMSA    COINTIES.  1">.> 

Cm/.  w;is  wMlkiiii:  Jil(»n<:  lln-  Ix-Jicli.  wliicli  is  coviTcd  willi 
iiiiiiit'iisc  l)o\vl(l«'rs,  wluMi  his  attciititm  was  attracted  by  the 
peculiar  irrcciiish  color  of  some  of  the  waterwoni.  i»olished 
rocks.  lie  lirnke  otV  several  pjj'ces.  which  i)roved  to  be  solid 
sulphide  of  iron  and  copper,  containiuir  over  !•  i)er  cent 
of  the  latter.  Then  he  took  samples  of  all  the  ore  in  siudit 
and  made  a  careful  e.stimate  of  the  (|uantity.  When  the  assay 
«rave  a  fair  pei-centaire  of  cop|)er  and  the  calculation  pi'oved 
a  satisfactory  value  in  siirht.  he  bou-rht  the  land  on  which  this 
mine  is  situated,  and  lieiran  at  once  the  preparati«tns  f(»r 
shipping;  ore.  It  is  over  :i(H)  feet  to  the  top  of  the  blutf  and 
the  ore  is  hauled  up  in  a  sled  ]>y  a  <ra.soline  euirine  over  a 
steep  incline.  Since  it  is  certain  that  the  ore  could  not  have 
come  far.  and  as  some  pieces  witli  auirular  ed^'es  were  found 
above  the  water  line,  there  seems  to  l)e  a  fair  chance  to  find 
its  source.  The  lowest  formation  is  sandstone,  with  scljists  and 
serjientine  al)ove. 


TEHAMA,  GLENN,   AND   COLUSA  COUNTIES. 


South  of  Sjiasta  County  and  the  head  of  the  Sacramento 
Valley,  the  eastern  slope  of  the  Coast  Kauii'e  is,  for  a  Ion? 
distance  south,  embraced  in  the  western  i)ortions  of  the  three 
larire  Sacramento  Valley  counties  of  Tehama,  (Jlenn.  and 
Colusa,  the  western  boundaries  of  which  are  alon<;  the  ransje 
suuuuit.  Tehama  reaches  across  to  the  Sierra  slope,  and  the 
others  have  the  Sacramento  Kiver  for  their  eastei-n  boundaries. 
These  counties  are  preeminently  airricultural  and  horticultui-al. 
and  have  cut  small  tiirures  in  the  mineral  industi-y  of  the  Stale. 
thouudi,  especially  in  the  case  of  Colusa,  this  has  been  because 
varied  and  valuable  mineral  resources  have  been  but  sliirhtly 
exploited.  Their  mineral  resources  are  found  alon«;  the  Coast 
Kan<re  slope,  which  displays  similar  topographical.  ,u:eolojjical, 
and  other  characteristics  throughout  the  three  counties.  This 
slope  is  fairly  well  watered.  ]K)orly  wooded,  and  sli«:htly  settled, 
except  in  small  fertile  valleys.  The  lower  foothills  throujrh 
the  three  counties  present  a  lonfj  belt  showinf:  promising:  indi- 
cations of  petroleum  and  natural  gas.  which  have  for  many 


156  THE  COPPER  RESOURCES  OF  CALIFORNIA. 

years  been  the  subjects  of  more  or  less  prospeetintr.  Alone: 
this  slope,  at  higher  altitudes,  various  mineral  substances  have 
loim  maintained  attention  that  lias  generally  lieeii  unrewarded. 
Nature  lias  been  most  generous  with  Colusa  iu  tliis  regard,  and 
its  western  portion  from  valley  i)lain  to  range  sunnnit  displays 
well-known  occurrences  of  quicksilver,  sulphur,  coal,  mineral 
watei's.  gold,  cojjper,  1)uildiiig  stone,  etc.  many  of  which 
ai'c  now  receiving  attention  and  inducing  considerable  invest- 
ment. In  l!)(l()  ('olusa  pi-oduced  some  (|nii'ksil\-er  and  mineral 
water,  Glenn  yielded  no  minerals,  and  Tehama  was  credited 
with  only  brick. 

Through  these  counties  the  known  copper  deposits  are 
ranucd  in  a  north  and  south  belt,  liigh  up  on  the  sloi)e,  parallel 
with  the  range  and  about  50  miles  west  of  the  Sacramento 
River.  This  belt  runs  from  the  west-central  part  of  Tehama 
County  south  through  Glenn  into  the  northea.stern  portion  of 
Colusa  County,  whence  it  is  prolonged  into  Lake  County,  and 
its  course  through  the  three  valley  counties  is  about  HO  miles 
in  length.  The  deposits  to  be  noted  are  mainly  in  the  colunuis 
of  townshii)s  numbered  6  and  7  west,  ^Mount  Diablo  meridian, 
some  others  lying  in  township  8  west.  All  are  but  a  few  miles 
below  the  summit  line.  This  zigzag  line  of  deposits  follows  a 
serpentine  belt,  and  the  copper  ores  are  characteristically 
found  inclosed  in  serpentine.  The  copper  exists  in  various 
mineral  forms,  those  most  frequently  noted  being  red  and  black 
oxides  and  carbonates,  while  native  copper  in  the  form  of  Hoat 
is  found  at  various  points.  The  ores  freciuently  carry  some 
gold,  and  they  generally  occur  in  narrow  and  often  rich  seams 
between  layers  of  serpentine,  but  the  deposits  opened  so  far 
have  been  small. 

Copper  deposits  in  Colusa  and  (Jlenn  counties  were  first 
discovered  in  the  early  sixties,  and  this  region  shared  the 
general  copper  excitement  of  that  period.  Two  attempts  at 
reduction  in  small  smelters  in  the  sixties  and  seventies,  respec- 
tively, failed  because  the  processes  were  not  adapted  to  the 
ores,  and  no  profitable  or  notable  operations  liave  ever  been 
conducted  in  these  counties.  Some  slight  shipments  of  ore 
have  been  made  in  past  years,  and  quite  a  nnndier  of  claims 
have  been  opened  to  a  small  extent,  but  all  exploration  to  date 
has  been  superficial  and  little  is  known  of  the  value  of  the 


TEHAMA  COUNTY — COPPER  CLAIMS.  157 

coppcM'  Itt'lt  (Icscrihctl.  Tlic  freijiu'iit  i-iclmcss  of  the  ores 
su^'lit'sls  tilt'  prohahh'  \v<»rtli  of  <i  hirirr  ilcpusit  if  one  were 
diseovercd.  Those  ileseribed  in  the  followiiijr  notes  are  the 
chief  ones  now  hchl  and  known  as  eopper  propositions,  but  they 
cover  a  small  pait  of  the  niinerali/ed  belt  in  which  they  belong. 

TEHAMA  COUNTY  DEPOSITS. 

Kestiicr  tV:  Thompson  jirospcctcd  a  claim  in  section  4,  town- 
ship 27  north,  ran<:e  7  west.  Tlicy  have  three  tunnels.  The 
vein.  4  to  5  feet  in  width,  is  in  serpentine. 

Elder  Creek  Groups. — in  section  20,  township  23  nortii, 
rani.M'  7  west,  and  in  sections  9,  10,  15,  and  16,  township  24 
north,  ranjre  7  west;  comprise  three  claims  owned  by  W. 
Richards,  five  claims  belonginjJT  to  F.  T.  Notz,  three  claims  to 
A.  Ilcnley,  and  three  claims  to  George  W.  Cooper.  All  sliow 
some  copper  indications. 

L.  E.  Ferine  worked  on  copper  stringers  in  section  25,  town- 
sjiip  27  north,  range  8  west. 

White  Bluff  Group. — In  sections  4.  5.  8,  and  9,  township  25 
north,  range  7  west;  belongs  to  H.  X.  Ilnestis.  of  Red  Bluff, 
and  consists  of  six  claims.  They  are  in  the  chrome  district. 
Some  copper  indications.     Slight  development. 

Tom  Head  Copper  Mine. — This  jiroperty  is  located  in  sec- 
tion 25,  township  27  noitli.  range  9  west.  Tehama  County.  Tt 
is  forty-two  miles  by  good  wagon  road  from  Red  BlutV.  and 
at  an  elevation  of  4150  feet.  Strike  of  vein  northwest  and 
southeast;  dip  probably  to  the  east.  There  is  a  gossan  capi)ing 
25  to  300  feet  in  width  on  the  surface.  I'ower  was  develoi)ed 
by  HO-horsepower  steam  boiler.  Water  power,  however,  under 
development.  Plant  has  a  three-drill  Sullivan  compressor  and 
60-horse|)ower  boiler.  Area  of  property  about  2000  acres; 
about  4(10  iicrcs  patented,  balance  held  as  mineral  locations. 
Development  is  on  two  levels.  On  upper  level  two  tunnels  cut 
the  vein  seme  70  feet  apart,  and  drifting  has  been  done  to 
connect  both  levels,  and  north  and  south  from  each,  showing 
vein  continuously  for  some  250  feet  and  ore  for  nearly  that 
distance.  Lower  level  was  driven  to  tap  the  vein  at  a  point 
150   feet   lielow   upper  level,    about    185   feet.      Value   of   ore 


158  THE  COPPER  RESOURCES  OF  CALIFORNIA. 

reported  at  >}?15.  ijfold,  silver,  and  copper,  present  prices.  Prop- 
erty is  owned  hy  the  California  and  ^lassaelmsetts  Copper 
]Minin^  Company.  ()i'<ranized  and  doin^'  bnsiness  nnder  the  laws 
of  Wyomini;.  and  leased  to  Chica.iro  Copper  Ketinin.ii'  Company. 
The  particnlai-  mineral  claim  wori<ed  is  known  as  the  Cnele 
Sam.  There  is  no  present  rej^nlar  output  from  the  mine,  as 
the  property  is  simply  under  development. 

Four  locations  belonging  to  the  California  and  ^SFassachusetts 
Copper  Mining  Company  (N.  E.  Guyot,  manager;  E.  Bun-ill, 
superintendent,  post  office.  Red  Bluff)  are  reported  by  owner's 
representative: 

Tom  Head. — In  section  31,  township  27  north.  rang<^  8  Avest. 
5-foot  vein  in  greenstone,  cour.se  northwest-southeast;  dip 
slightly  northeast,  containing  carbonate  ore:  development.  o]ien 
cut  and  :^()-fo(it  tunnel. 

Uncle  Sam. — In  section  25,  township  27  north,  range  8  west, 
24-foot  vein ;  strike,  northwest-southea.st.  between  lime  foot  and 
greenstone  hanging  wall.  Ore,  sulphides  and  some  native 
copper.  Three  tunnels  of  60,  300.  <\nd  lU  feet,  with  SOO-foot 
drifts. 

The  Halley. — In  seetion  5.  township  26  north,  i-angt-  !)  west, 
and 

Verde. — In  section  24.  townsliip  27  north,  range  f)  M'cst.  are 
in  slate  and  lime.    Undeveloped. 

GLENN  COUNTY  DEPOSITS. 

Hudibras  Claim. — In  section  1.  township  ID  north,  range  7 
west.  The  formation  is  serjientine.  A  shaft  6  feet  deep  shows 
some  copper  indications.  Owner.  Briscoe  Oil  and  Mineral 
Company.  The  same  company  owns  land  in  sections  2.  11.  12. 
and  13,  whereon  copper  indications  occur. 

II.  D.  Knight  owns  land  in  sections  18  and  19,  township  19 
nortli.  range  6  west,  showing  copper  indications. 

St.  John  Development  Co. — Owns  land  on  whieh  there  are 
iron-capped  copper  indieations  in  section  18,  township  18  north, 
range  6  west. 

Indications  similar  to  the  above  ocoir  in  sections  12,  13.  and 
24.  town.ship  18  north,  range  7  west. 


CLAIMS    IN    CI.KNX    WP   COM'SA    COUNTIKS.  1')!' 

Black  Biittes  Copper  Claim. —  In  sections  ;5()  and  Ml.  lown- 
sliip  24  norlli.  ranm'  S  wi'st.  Ownuf.  J.  .\.  Ik'dfoi'd.  Tlicrt'  arc 
here  fino  indications  of  red  oxide  scattered  annind  in  Imiu'lics. 
but  no  vein. 

There  are  the  I'eniains  ol"  an  old  lown,  I'eckville.  in  section 
18.  lounsliip  IS  noilli.  ran'jc  ti  west,  where  in  the  sixties  there 
was  a  Jar.ire  amount  of  |)rosi>eelin<;  fur  copper  and  uold.  ()ld 
tunnels  and  shafts  ai'e  l"rc(|ueiit.  To  the  north  of  Chrome 
Miuintain.  two  miles.  A.  W.  Lehoin  owns  claims  where  there 
are  «,'Ood  eopjx'r  indicatit>ns;  foi-mation  serjientine.  Develop- 
ment consists  of  a  tunnel  2(10  feet  Ion*,'.  Lai-^'e  pieces  of  native 
copper  an'  here  foinul.  some  weiiihin^;  about  two  pounds. 

South  from  the  lUack  linttes.  alon^r  Grindstone  Creek,  and 
following'  the  creek  tweiilv-Hvc  oi-  thirty  miles  to  Stony  Creek, 
it   is  all  a  mpjiei-  niinei-ali/ml  coiititry. 


COLUSA  COUNTY  DEPOSITS. 

Gem  Group. — Located  iiy  W.  W.  Heard  and  others  consist- 
hv^  of  fonrteen  claims  in  section  2<S,  township  16  north,  raiu^e 
6  west.  Nearby  are  two  claims  owjied  by  Kaymoiul  Iloux  and 
Edward  Swinford.  all  showing  indications  ol'  copper. 

Blackbird. — Owned  by  C.  h.  Ilcai-d  et  al. :  in  sections  ID  and 
2(i.  township  Ifi  north.  I'anue  (I  west.     Ledue  is  in  sei'|)en1  inc. 

Gray  Eagle. — The  most  jmpoi-tant  location  in  this  neisi'h- 
])orhood  is  owned  hy  W.  X.  Heard  and  .1.  W.  Simons,  it  lies 
in  section  2n,  township  Ki  north,  ivmil;!'  (i  west.  It  is  developed 
b\  open  cnts  and  a  shaft  2i*  I'eet  deep.  The  vein  fonmition 
is  of  unknown  width,  hnt  a  seam  of  copjier-bearinu'  rock  is 
exposed  that  shows  from  IS  to  4S  inches  in  width.  This  does 
not  appear  to  have  nuu/h  reirularity.  A  tunnel  run  200  feet 
does  not  reach  the  vein  in  dei)th.  The  ores  are  native  copper 
in  ser]M'ntine  and  red  and  Itlack  oxides.  Alouir  the  lode  ores 
earryine  native  copper  <'aii  lie  Found  as  float. 

Pacific  Claim. — It  is  about  two  miles  southeast  of  the  Gray 
Ea.iifle.  in  section  28.  township  Iti  noi'th.  ran^e  (i  west.  TTere  a 
shaft  was  sunk  50  feet  on  a  bunch  of  ore,  which  was  then 
all  extracted  and  shipped.     There  are  two  otln  r  shafts,  one 


IGO  THE  COPPER  RESOURCES  OF  CALIFORNIA. 

25  feet,  the  other  45  feet  deep.     The  foriiuitiou  is  serpentine, 

and  the  ores  are  oxides  of  iron  and  copper,  carryinij:  some  gokl. 

Tliere    are    several    other    prospect    holes,    showinti;    small 

amounts  of  copper  ores,  in  township  16  north.  ran*re  6  west. 

Ruby  King-  Copper  Mining  and  Townsite  Co. — A  Sacra- 
mento corpoi-ation  owns  and  has  0]>ened  eleven  claims  in 
sections  2!l  jtiid  'A'2.  townslii])  17  north.  I'aiiuc  (i  west.  No  great 
(Icvclopiiiciil.  and  no  lar.ue  deposits  are  yd  sliown.  The  prin- 
cipal iiulications  on  this  ^i-onp  are  Hoat  copper. 

On  the  tiround  of  llie  Mark  llaniia  Oil  Compan.w  in  section 
35,  township  17  north,  i-ange  7  west,  there  are  indications  of 
copper  ore. 

Lion  Mine.— On  this  old  property,  the  present  owner  of 
wliich  is  J.  F.  Easton,  there  has  heen  consideral)le  work  done 
in  the  past. 


MENDOCINO  COUNTY. 


.Mendocino  Conidy  knows  little  of  the  mineral  iiuhistry  in 
any  of  its  forms,  but  carries  various  economic  minerals'  in  its 
mountains,  prominent  among  which  is  copper,  of  which  many 
surface  showings  occur.  The  county  occupies  about  85  miles 
of  llie  coast  line  south  of  Humboldt,  and  in  its  widest  part 
reaches  60  miles  eastward  to  the  summit  of  the  Coast  Range, 
where  it  meets  the  vaUey  connty  of  (llenn.  Its  southern  half 
shares  the  higher  mountain  region  with  Lake  County.  Mendo- 
cino lias  rich  agricultural  valleys,  the  chief  ones  being  those  of 
the  Eel  ;ind  Rnssi.in  rivers.  The  redwood  belt  extends  through 
the  county,  anil  lumbering  is  the  chief  industry.  The  lower 
elevations  afford  extensive  grazing  lands.  Mineral  springs  and 
an  extensive  undeveloped  coal  region  in  the  northern  part 
provide  the  best  known  mineral  features. 

Copper  occurrences  are  sporadic  and  form  no  "belts."  They 
are  found  along  the  eastern  side  of  the  county  and  across  the 
southern  end  to  the  range  nearest  the  coast.  As  elsewhere  in 
this  general  coast  region,  they  vary  in  nature,  displaying  car- 
bonates most  frequently  and  occurring  in  metamoi-i)hic  forma- 


MKNDOCIXO   C'orXTV — COPI'KR    CLAIMS.  161 

tions.  Several  prospects  displav  rich  ores  in  small  ((uantity. 
lull  lilt'  prospecting,'  that  has  Ihmmi  carried  on  intermittently 
for  many  years  has  not  yet  revealed  any  notable  depasits. 

In  the  northern  part  of  the  county,  the  Thomas  projjcrty 
has  been  lon<r  prospected  because  of  rich  indications,  but  no 
larjL'c  ore  bodies  have  been  found  in  place.  Promising;  indica- 
tions are  reported  from  Potter  Valley  in  the  east  central  i)art. 
^lost  of  the  known  prospects  are  in  the  southern,  and  espe- 
cially the  southeastern  portion,  south  and  east  of  Ukiah,  the 
county  seat,  near  the  Lake  County  boundar3\ 

Thomas.— On  Pralt  ridge,  at  the  edge  of  Eden  Valley,  fifty- 
tive  miles  north  of  Ukiah  and  tliree  miles  south  of  Carey.  A 
mass  of  rich  sulphides  of  iron  and  copper  has  caused  consider- 
;il»lc  prospecting  in  search  of  a  vein. 

Native  Copper. — On  Ked  ^Mountain,  twelve  miles  southeast 
(»f  L'kiaii.  A  shallow  cut  shows  a  stratum  of  serpentine  about 
3  feet  wide,  carrying  native  copper  and  copper  minerals.  The 
stratum  is  inclosed  in  serpentine. 

Red  Mountain  Group. — Four  claims,  ten  miles  southeast  of 
Lkiah.  in  section  2;i,  township  15  north,  range  11  west.  Appar- 
ently two  veins  exist.  These  claims  were  located  in  1890,  and 
relocated  from  time  to  time.  The  formation  is  principally 
serpentine.  One  claim  is  developed  by  an  open  cut  and  cross- 
cut tunnel.  Several  small  bunches  of  ore  have  been  found  in 
the  cut,  showing  green  carbonates  and  metallic  copper.  An 
adjoining  claim  is  developed  by  two  shafts  100  feet  and  50 
feet  deep  and  by  an  incline.  From  one  shaft,  above  the  50- 
foot  level,  bunches  of  carbonate  ore  were  taken  out  in  1896. 
One  ton  of  ore  shipped  to  San  Francisco  yielded  .^12  in 
excess  of  transportation  and  working  charges.  The  shaft  was 
extended  to  the  100-foot  level,  showing  no  ore,  the  bottom 
being  in  broken  sandstone  and  clay.  From  an  incline  several 
tons  of  low-grade  ore  have  been  taken  out.  Other  openings 
have  yielded  nothing  of  interest.  Owners,  Huff  &  Gibson 
T'kiah. 

Ogle. — This  mine  is  situated  in  the  Anderson  Valley  dis- 
trict, comprises  2000  acres  of  patented  land,  in  township  13 
north,  range  12  west,  and  joins  the  Redwood  Copper  Queen 
11— BuL.  50 


162  THE  COPPER  HESOl'RCES  OK  CALIFORNIA. 

iiiinc  oil  the  north.  This  land  was  Ijondcd  to  Cloverdale  proplc. 
A  sliat't  If)  feet  deep  on  the  center  of  the  ehiini  exposed  ear- 
bonate  ore.  Not  enough  work  has  been  done  to  demonstrate 
the  width  of  the  vein  or  the  formation  of  the  walls.  (Jossan 
2  to  '.i  feet  wide  can  be  traced  for  one  mile  through  the  claim. 
The  conditions  attending  the  Redwood  (U)pper  Queen  obtain. 
Owners,  Ogle  Brothers,  Ornbaun,  .Mendocino  County. 

McGimpsey. — In  sections  17,  l:}.  and  18.  townsliij)  l:^  north, 
range  12  west,  fifteen  miles  southwest  of  I'kiah.  coinprisini:' 
eight  full  claims.  Tlie  formation  is  serpentine.  The  o])en  cnts 
have  exposed  considerable  copper  stains,  and  in  a  few  places 
some  red  oxide  of  copper  mixed  witli  oxide  of  iron.  The 
work  shows  an  iiregular  diffusion  of  cupriferous  material 
through  the  mass  of  erui)tive  rocks.  Ownei-.  ('.  W  .McGimpsey, 
Ukiah. 

Pieta. — One  claim,  ten  miles  northeast  of  Cloverdale,  four 
miles  from  the  Sonoma  County  line.  It  is  developed  ))y  an 
open  cut  55  feet  across  the  vein  matter.  Croppings  can  be 
traced  through  the  claim,  the  strike  of  the  mine  being  east. 
The  ore  carries  a  slight  trace  of  carbonate  of  co[)per.  the 
gangue  matter  is  mostly  magnetic  iron,  and  serpentine  is  the 
foi'niation  of  both  walls.  Owners,  J.  G.  Caldwell  et  al.,  liealds- 
burg,  Sonoma  County. 

Redwood  Copper  Queen. — Consists  of  840  acres  of  patented 
land  in  sections  17  and  2(».  township  12  north,  range  1:^  west. 
.Mount  Diablo  meridian,  and  is  thirty-five  miles  southeast  of 
Ukiali.  The  tlevelopuicnt  work  consists  of  ueai'ly  200  feet  of 
tuiHieling  to  a  point  in  the  vein  where  a  chamber  has  hcni 
excavated  16  feet  square,  exposing  snli)hi(lc  ore.  Two  winzes 
have  be(Mi  sunk  at  tliis  jioint.  1(»0  and  'M\  feet,  rc'spectively. 
The  vertical  100-foot  winze  was  stai'ted  near  the  foot  wall, 
and  sidphide  ore  exposed  the  entire  depth.  The  foot  wall 
having  been  encountered  at  this  level,  work  was  then 
al)andoned,  and  a  second  winze  started  on  an  incline  of  65 
degrees  northeast  and  showing  sulphide  ore.  The  lode  is 
very  nuich  broken,  and  tlu'  walls  very  iri-egular,  caused 
doubtless  by  faults  that  are  prominent  on  the  surface.  The 
walls  on  the  tunnel  level  are  respectively  broken  porphyry  and 
sandstone.     A  gossan  cajijung  2  to  4  fe(4  wide  can  be  traced 


LAKE  COUNTY — COPPER  CLAIMS.  Ifi:^ 

uMo  mill'  tliroii^^i  the  piujicrtN .  Tlie  surraee  .soil  is  in  soiiif 
places  from  6  to  8  feet  deep.  The  ore  carries  gold,  silver, 
green  and  blue  carbonates,  black  and  red  oxides,  gray  copper 
and  copper  ])yrites.  The  company  is  a  San  Francisco  corpora- 
tion. W.  I'.  Ferguson,  prcsiilent  :  Thoni.is  .McJIersh,  secretary 
and  treasurer.  San  Fi-ancisco. 


LAKE  COUNTY. 


Lying  wholly  within  the  Coast  Ranges,  Avitli  tho  line  divid- 
ing the  watersheds  of  the  Sacramento  River  and  tlie  Pacific 
for  ils  eastern  boundary,  inclosetl  bi'tween  two  ranges  and 
containing  an  especially  rugged  portion  of  this  mountain  sys- 
teuL  Jjake  County  has  varied  mineral  resources,  though  its 
mineral  output  is  relatively  small.  Its  many  scenic  attrac- 
tions iia\e  made  it  called  a  little  Switzerland.  It  is  a  region 
of  much  and  recent  volcanic  action.  It  has  m.iny  mineiiil 
springs,  .some  of  which  are  famous  resorts,  and  1»\-  these  Lake 
County  is  mainly  known  to  the  outside  Avorld.  Cinnabar  is 
its  chief  mineral  resource,  and  it  is  now  one  of  the  important 
((uicksilver  counties.  Its  other  niinei'als  are  gold,  silver, 
copper,  bora.x,  sulphur,  asbestos,  chrome,  natural  gas.  etc. 

The  cupriferous  belt  passing  through  Tehama,  (xleiin,  and 
Colusa  counties  reaches  into  Lake  at  the  north.  Here,  near 
the  head  of  Little  Indian  Valley,  a  mineralized  belt  carrying 
copper  extends  several  miles,  and  at  one  time  there  was  quite 
a  copper  excitement  caused  by  the  finding  of  large  pieces  of 
native  copper  and  rich  oxide  ores.  The  L\'on  property  gave 
rich  i)rospects  and  several  thousand  dollai's  were  lost  in  an 
ill-managed  attempt  to  smelt  the  ores.  Copper  is  elsewhere 
mainly  found  in  the  southern  portion  of  the  county  below 
Clear  Lake,  and  in  the  central  west  near  the  head  of  Clear 
Lake  and  across  the  line  from  the  chief  copjier  occurrences  of 
^lendocino  County.    Three  ]>roperties  are  noted. 

Copper  Prince  Mining  Co. — Pro])erty  consists  of  three 
claims,  four  miles  northwest  of  Middletown.  in  section  19, 
townshii)  11   north,  range  7  west,  in  the  southern  part  of  the 


164  THE  COPPER  RESOURCES  OF  CALIFORNIA. 

(Mtuiity.  Developed  mainly  hy  one  tunnel  and  two  open  euts 
on  the  vein,  sliowing  the  vein  to  l)e  from  6  to  8  feet  wide,  with 
limestone  walls.  Heavy  gossan  can  be  traced  through  the 
claims.  The  company  surveyed  on  the  north  slope  of  the 
ridge  preparatory  to  starting  a  tunnel  with  the  view  of  cut- 
ling  the  vein  on  deeper  levels.  The  ore  on  the  tunnel  level 
is  impregnated  with  blue  and  green  carl)onates,  and  is 
reported  to  assay  5  per  cent  in  copper,  $3  in  gold  and  1  ounce 
of  silver.  President.  E.  Lobree;  secretary,  J.  C.  Ruddock, 
TT-iah. 

Christiansen  Tract.^This  comprises  294  acres  in  toAvn- 
shi])  l:i  north,  range  7  west,  and  is  three  miles  south  of  Clear 
Lake.  Considerable  float  has  been  found  on  the  low  lands, 
evidently  coming  from  the  high  ridges  that  are  somewhat 
prominent  tliroughout  the  tract.  Several  pieces  of  float  have 
been  a.ssayed,  and  are  reported  to  contain  65  per  cent  copper. 
In  1879  a  tunnel  was  run  about  the  center  of  the  ranch,  112 
feet  north,  on  a  contact  of  serpentine  and  limestone,  but  no 
vein  was  found  in  place.     Owner,  Peter  Christianson. 

Poe  Claim. — Seven  miles  north  of  Lakeport,  in  section  27, 
township  15  north,  range  10  west,  a  shaft  of  35  feet  was 
sunk  and  a  tunnel  of  65  feet  was  run  in  1870.  In  1900  parties 
relocated  and  ran  an  open  cut  25  feet  long  on  the  south  end 
croppings.  The  vein  is  5  feet  wide,  in  a  serpentine  belt,  and 
shows  a  light  trace  of  carbonates.  There  are  ten  sulphur 
springs  at  the  north  end  of  the  property.  Owners,  II.  B. 
"Wells.  A.  Smythe  and  James  Lee,  Lakeport. 


NAPA  COUNTY. 


Napa  County  is  one  of  the  mo.st  favored  and  fertile  counties 
of  the  Coast  Range  region.  It  lies  south  of  Lake  County  and 
east  of  Sonoma,  and  reaches  south  to  San  Pablo  Bay.  Topo- 
graphically it  is  mainly  composed  of  the  rich  and  populous 
Napa  Valley,  and  of  two  flanking  mountain  ranges.  At  the 
head  of  Napa  Valley,  at  the  northern  end  of  the  county,  is 
]\Iount  St.  Helena,  altitude  4343  feet,  the  highest  point  in  this 


XAl'A   COLNTV — COl'l'EK   CLAIMS.  165 

|>;ii-t  of  the  Coast  K;mirt'.  S;\\)n  is  iiuiiiily  a  fruit.  Lii'aiii.  aiitl 
vine-^'ro\vin«:  (•(nmty.  l)nt  it  alsct  |)().s.se.s.ses  a  variety  of  niim-i-al 
re.soiirfe.s,  tliose  of  greatest  present  importam-c  being  fpiiek- 
silver  and  mineral  waters.  Tn  the  northern  portion  of  the 
oonnty  are  some  of  the  important  (piicksilver  mines  of  Cali- 
fornia, and  some  of  its  mineral  springs  are  widely  known. 
Other  mineral  resources  are  gold,  silver,  chromium,  iron, 
manganese,  and  building  stone.  In  I'JOO  Xapa  Comity's 
mineral  output  amounted  to  s};493.100.  and  in  1809  to  $701,416. 
Copper  occurs  sporadically,  as  in  adjoining  counties.  Two 
deposits  are  noted. 

Napa  Copper  Claim.— One  claim,  situated  thirteen  miles 
south  of  Middletow  11.  in  section  17,  township  10  north,  range 
;■)  west;  developed  by  a  crosscut  tunnel  south  400  feet.  A 
gos.san  capping  can  be  seen  through  the  entire  plain.  Several 
years  back  a  shaft  was  sunk  50  feet  on  the  west  end  of  the 
plain,  and  reported  to  have  eneountered  several  bunches  of 
high-grade  sulphide  ore.  A  new  corporation  Avas  organized, 
and  work  was  resumed.  A  700-foot  tuiuiel  was  started  on  the 
north  side  of  the  mountain,  with  the  view  of  cutting  the  vein 
•SOO  feet  from  th(>  surface.  The  country  formation  is  serpentine. 
Owners,  Xapa  Copper  Company — Ov.eu  AVade,  president ;  T.  A. 
Taylor,  secretary.  St.  Helena. 

Search  Group. — This  property  consists  of  eight  continmms 
claims,  seventeen  miles  north  of  Xapa,  in  section  5,  township 
6  north,  range  5  west.  Very  little  work  has  been  done.  There 
has  never  been  any  vein  found  in  place,  although  considerable 
float,  consisting  of  sulphides,  has  l)een  picked  up  on  the  slope 
of  the  mountain.  The  formation  is  serpentine.  Several  years 
ago  .several  crosscut  tunnels  were  run  iiortli.  but  were  not 
extended  far  enough  to  encounter  the  vein.  The  capping  has 
an  east  and  west  trend,  is  2  to  4  feet  wide,  and  is  sprinkled 
with  blue  and  green  carbonates.  Owner,  E.  F.  Kossan.  Clen 
Ell.'u. 


inf)  TIIK  COPPER  RESOURCES  OF  C.M.IFORNMA. 

SONOMA  COUNTY. 


<^juitt'  a  iiiinil)(.'r  of  fopjJiT  dt'posits  of  minor  iniporlaiicc,  as 
far  as  developed,  are  found  in  the  bay  county  of  Sonoma, 
whicli  lies  for  nearly  60  miles  along  the  sea  south  of  IMendo- 
ciiKi.  ('xtciKJs  hac-k  some  40  miles  to  tlie  suiniiiil  of  the  main 
Coast  Ranu:e.  opens  on  San  Pablo  Bay  at  its  south.  ;md  leaves 
the  small  coiuity  of  ^Nlarin  oeeupying  the  peninsula  opposite 
San  Franeiseo.  The  county  is  traversed  by  several  low  north- 
and-south  ranjres.  and  possesses  some  of  the  large.st  and  most 
famous  of  the  horticultural  and  agricultural  valleys  of  the 
State.  These  fertile  valleys  are  the  chief  fountains  of  its  life 
and  wealth.  The  redwood  belt  near  the  coast  supports  an 
extensive  lumber  industry.  Of  minerals,  the  county  po.ssesses 
a  variety.  There  are  slight  occurrences  of  gold  and  silver,  and 
scattered  deposits  of  iron,  coal,  manganese,  mineral  paint, 
chrome,  clays,  building  stones,  etc. 

The  copper  ores  discovered  form  no  connected  licit.  l)nt  occur 
within  two  vertical  tiers  of  townships  through  the  central 
region  of  the  county.  The  occurrences  are  similar  to  those  of 
adjacent  coast  counties.  Several  prospects  have  ])een  opened 
by  s\iperficial  sluifts.  tunnels,  and  cuts,  a  few  tons  of  ore  taken 
out  and  slight  experimental  shipments  made  in  past  years. 
Several  properties  have  been  reopened. 

Wall  Tract. — Consists  of  200  acres  of  patented  laud  five 
miles  .southwest  of  Santa  Ro.sa.  in  section  30,  township  8  north, 
range  9  west.  Several  pieces  of  rich  copper  float  have  been 
found  on  the  1i-act.  but  as  yet  no  vein  in  j)lace.  A  sluift  10 
feet  deep  has  shown  native  quicksilver.  Owner.  11.  C.  Wall. 
Hilton,  Sonoma  County. 

Archer  Tract. — This  tract  joins  the  AVall  tract  on  the 
north,  and  comprises  288  acres  of  patented  land  in  townshii) 
S  north,  range  9  west.  In  1880  considerable  rich  float  was 
found  and  shipped,  and  two  tuiuu^ls  nni  north  on  the  contact. 
2r)()  feet  apart,  for  a  distance  of  200  feet.  No  vein  was  fouiul 
in  i)lace.  The  tunnels  were  abandoned.  Interest  was  later 
I'enewed,  owing  to  rich  float  being  again  found.  The  formation 
is  serpentine  and  sandstone.  Owner,  J.  II.  Archer,  Ilealdsburg. 
SutKima  Counfv. 


SONOMA    COINTY — COPPER    CLAIMS.  1«)T 

Healdsburg  Lode. — One  cliiiiu.  ti'ii  luilrs  iioiili  of  llcalds- 
hiirir,  <»n  liliick  Moimtain.  in  section  81.  t()\viislii|)  11  north, 
i-iinire  1)  west.  A  very  proiiiiiii'iit  uossjiu  cropping'  oxtendiny: 
several  feet  ahove  the  surfaec  nms  throuiih  the  elaim.  The 
proptity  was  opened  many  years  ajro  hy  a  tunnel  which  pene- 
trated nothinir  hut  limestone.  The  owners  i-an  a  crosscut  tunnel 
(Ml  lh.-  wrsl  slope  of  1lir  iiKuiiil ai II.  wlUi  a  vi<'W  of  cutting'  the 
vein  100  fe«'t  from  the  surface.  The  elevation  on  the  summit  of 
lilack  Mountain  is  2500  feet.  Owners.  Ed  Kllis  and  J.  (i. 
Caldwrll.   llcaldsburir. 

Grizzly  Claim. — This  property,  ten  miles  northwest  of 
ll.'ahlsi)ur^-,  is  situated  on  Pine  Creek,  in  townshii)  !»  north, 
i-an^'e  10  west,  and  was  relocated.  Croppiii^s.  principally 
(puirtz.  carry  coppei-  stains.  Old  works  consist  of  two  caved 
tunnels  on  the  s(mth  slope  of  the  mountain  200  feet  apart, 
ruiHiin^'  Avest  100  feet.  The  formation  is  sandstone  on  the 
north  and  serpentine  on  the  south.  Owners.  C.  F.  Brandt  et  al., 
irealdshurir. 

Ward  Tract.— Consists  of  oOl  acres  of  patented  land, 
five  miles  west  of  Healdshur-i-.  in  section  22.  township  !•  noi-tli. 
ran^ro  10  west.  Gos.san  croppin-s  can  !>(>  followed  for  one  mile 
eastward  throu'jh  the  tract  alon^-  a  contact  of  limestone  and 
sri'|)rntine.  Some  very  rich  coppei-  float  has  heen  found  on 
the  tract,  hut  no  vein  has  heen  discovered  in  place.  Owner. 
J.  \V.  Wai-d.  llealdslniru-. 

Altamont  Group.— This  property  is  eighteen  miles  north- 
west of  Santa  Kosa.  in  section  17.  township  7  north,  rau^e  10 
west.  It  is  developed  by  an  open  cut  and  shaft.  The  croppinos 
(M.nsist  of  a  ^rossan  capping  several  hundred  feet  in  length, 
whicli  exposes  a  vein  5  feet  wide  of  copper  carbonates.  Tlie 
fonnation  on  both  sides  of  capping  is  serpentine.  At  the 
end  of  the  open  cut  a  shaft  has  l)een  sunk  on  the  vein  matter. 
Owners.  .1.  1).  CoiuicUy.  .lames  Owens,  11.  M.  LeBaron,  Occi- 
dental, Sonoma  County. 

Baby  Jack  and  Earl  Clare. — Situated  seven  mih'S  north- 
west of  llealdsl)urg  and  two  miles  west  of  Dry  Creek,  in  town- 
ship 9  north,  range  10  west.  In  1875  these  claims  were  worked 
and  several  tons  of  copper  ore  shipped  to  San  Francisco. 
Later  they  were  aliandoned  and  relocated  from  time  to  time. 


168  THE  COPPER  RESOURCES  OF  CALIFORNIA. 

The  Baby  Jack  is  developed  by  a  35-foot  tunnel  at  the  soutli 
end,  on  the  strike  of  the  outcrop,  the  face  giving  about  35 
feet  of  backs.  About  tlie  center  of  the  claim  a  vertical  shaft 
has  been  sunk  22  feet  on  the  vein.  The  gangue  of  the  vein 
is  principally  quartz  carrying  no  copper  sulphides,  but  stained 
somewhat  with  blue  and  green  carbonates.  The  formation  on 
the  east  is  limestone,  on  the  west  serpentine.  Considerable 
timber  is  growing  on  the  claims.  Owner,  C.  C.  Echlin,  Santa 
Rosa. 


MARIN  COUNTY. 


The  small  i-oasl  county  of  Marin,  lying  across  the  Golden 
Gate  from  San  Francisco,  presents  a  few  small  copper  deposits 
among  its  slightly  developed  mineral  resources,  w^hich  include 
small  seams  of  coal,  iron,  manganese,  chrome,  l)uilding  stones, 
and  claj's.  Brick  and  rubble  are  the  current  mineral  products. 
Nearly  forty  years  ago  two  copper  deposits  close  to  the  shore, 
between  Mount  Tamalpais  and  Bolinas  Bay,  were  opened  by 
tunnels  and  later  al)andoned.  One,  in  Union  Gulch  about 
three  miles  north  of  Bolinas,  was  opened  in  1863  by  the  Union 
Copper  ]Mining  Company,  which  shipped  several  tons  of  ore 
for  reduction.  Eftorts  to  develop  a  profitable  supply  of  ore 
lasted  seven  years.  In  1863  the  Pike  County  Gulch  Copper 
]\Iining  Company  opened  another  mine  a  mile  south  of  the 
Union  in  Pike  Gulch.  During  three  years  a  700-foot  tunnel 
was  run,  but  the  enterprise  was  abandoned.  In  this  neighbor- 
hood there  is  a  4-foot  vein  cropping  carrying  iron  pyrites  and 
covering  low-grade  copper  ore.  The  ores  in  these  deposits 
occur  in  veins,  associated  with  quartz  and  lying  in  metamorphic 
sandstone. 

Bolinas  Copper  Mining  Co. — This  company  has  exploited  a 
copper  projx'rty  in  the  region  described,  four  miles  northeast 
of  Bolinas  Bay,  in  section  1,  township  1  north,  range  S  Ave-st, 
and  twenty  miles  from  San  Francisco.  The  property  consists 
of  nine  paralh'l  coi)per-bearing  veins  encased  in  serpentine. 
The  veins  trend  northwest,  are  vertical,  and  are  from  6  inches 


CLAIMS    JN    .MAKIX    AND    AI.A.MEUA    CDLNTlliS.  lUl' 

t(t  2  ft'ct  ill  w  idth.  On  the  western  vein  a  sliaft  has  been  sunk 
180  feet,  and  froiii  it  2500  feet  of  drifts  have  been  driven  north 
and  south  on  the  100  and  180-foot  levels.  In  former  times 
short  tunnels  were  run  on  the  veins  to  test  their  values,  but 
these  tunnels  eaved.  The  owner  is  the  Bolinas  Copper  Mininsr 
Company;  T.  I*.  11.  Whitelaw.  ]iresidont  and  nianairer.  San 
Franeiseo. 


ALAMEDA  COUNTY. 

Alameda,  a  rich  and  populous  county  lyiiiu  on  the  eastern 
side  of  San  Francisco  Bay,  made  up  topoj^'raphically  of  fertile 
valleys  and  low  ranges  of  the  Coast  system,  has  added  copper 
to  the  list  of  economic  minerals  counted  among  its  resources. 
It  has  been  an  important  producer  of  salt,  manganese,  clays, 
building  and  paving  stones,  etc.  A  copper-bearing  lode  was 
discovered  a  few  miles  east  of  the  bay  shore,  close  to  the  city 
of  Oakland,  and  directly  across  the  bay  from  San  Francisco. 
An  exposition  of  it  is  contained  in  the  following  descriptions 
of  the  two  properties  in  which  development  occurred: 

Alma  Mine. — This  property  embraces  over  80  acres  of  laud 
belonging  to  the  Koehmer  ranch,  four  miles  east  of  Broadway. 
Oakland.  Its  development  has  been  undertaken  by  the  Stautt'er 
Chemical  Comi>any  of  San  Francisco,  and  consists  of  about 
GOO  feet  of  tunnels,  Avith  some  unimportant  shafts  and  open 
cuts.  The  ore  body  forms  a  shoot  of  solid  pyritic  ore  ("black 
pyrites"),  apparently  lenticular  in  shape,  having  a  thickness 
of  12  to  18  feet.  The  shoot  has  been  followed  for  more  than 
100  feet  along  its  strike  in  a  northwesterly  and  southeasterh- 
course.  Other  shoots  have  been  proved,  in  the  near  neighbor- 
hood. They  occur  along  a  zone  or  belt  of  indefinite  width, 
ranging  Avith  the  strike  of  the  ore  and  crossing  the  canyon  of 
Redwood  Creek.  The  belt  has  been  traced  for  a  distance  of 
about  3000  feet,  including  the  deposits  of  this  and  the  following 
property.  The  whole  amount  of  ore  available  upon  this  prop- 
erty is  very  great.  The  ore  zone  follows  very  nearly  along  the 
line  of  contact  between  serpentine  and  a  silicious  rock  resem- 


170  THE  COPPER  RESOURCES  OF  CALIFORNIA. 

I)liiiii'  a  nu'taiiioi'phosed  clicrt.  Croppinjis  of  jiossan  also  occur 
outside  of  the  direct  line  of  the  main  ore  zone.  The  ore  from 
this  mine  consists  of  the  simple  sulphide  of  iron  and  copper,  the 
percentage  of  copper  being  low,  ranging,  it  is  said,  between 
iy2  and  3I/2  per  cent,  and  carrying  gold  to  the  value  of  about 
.^2.50  per  ton.  Tlie  ore  is  mined  chiefly-  for  its  contents  of 
sulphur,  of  which  it  carries  about  45  to  50  per  cent.  A  repre- 
sentative analysis  of  the  ore  is  given  by  the  Stauffer  Chemical 
Company,  as  follows :  Sulphur,  about  50  per  cent ;  copper,  3 
per  cent;  gold.  $2.50,  and  silver  one  ounce  per  ton;  silica, 
traces;  balance,  iron.  The  ore  is  shipped  from  the  mine 
directly  to  the  acid  works  of  the  Stauffer  Chemical  Company, 
or  to  supply  the  demands  of  other  chemical  companies  depend- 
ing upon  tlie  use  of  pyritic  ores  for  their  source  of  sulphur. 
The  Peyton  Chemical  Company  of  San  Francisco  is  a  large 
consumer.  This  mine  is  important,  not  only  for  the  present 
and  i>rospeetive  value  it  contains  within  itself,  but  from  the 
fact  that  its  development  opens  uj)  the  }n*obability  of  still  other 
similar  deposits  in  this  region,  where  similar  geological  condi- 
tions are  not  uncommon. 

Leona  Heights  Mine. — To  the  south  of  the  Alma  mine 
and  on  the  strike  of  its  ore-bearing  zone,  is  the  mine  owned 
and  operated  hy  the  California  Improvement  Company,  under 
control  of  the  Realty  Syndicate  of  Oakland,  of  which  F.  M. 
Smith  is  president.  The  ore  body  of  this  mine  is  similarly 
situated  and  is  similar  in  character  to  that  of  the  preceding 
property.  It  is  develojied  l)y  tunnels,  showing  a  shoot  of  ore 
alxmt  12  feet  in  thickness.  The  croppings  of  gossan  (limonite) 
iirc  very  coiispicuoiis  a.t  the  surface. 


f'ONTKA    fOSTA    CorN'TV        .MKKC"i:n    CorNTV.  171 


CONTRA  COSTA  COUNTY. 


MOUNT  DIABLO  DISTRICT. 

Tliis  Bureau  has  received  a  communication  from  ^Messrs. 
•Jolui  Xeate.  M.E..  and  Cluis.  Olaine.  No.  425  Bank  street,  San 
Francisco,  referring  to  copper  dei)Osits  on  Blount  Diablo 
(elevation  3054  feet),  from  which  are  taken  the  following 
statements : 

Some  forty  years  ago  some  i'i<'h  float  found,  especially 
copper  glance,  led  to  tiie  discovery  of  copper  ores,  which 
attracted  considera])le  attention  and  were  worked  to  some 
extent,  but  under  the  conditions  prevailing  at  that  time  they 
could  not  be  mined  to  advantage,  and  were  soon  abandoned. 

The  correspondents  ])r()spected  in  that  region  in  1907  and 
found  several  veins  carrying  values  of  gold  and  copper  in  the 
ravines  on  the  north  and  west  slope  of  the  mountain,  running 
noi't Invest  and  southeast,  the  same  as  the  gulches.  They  report 
one  lode  from  80  to  100  feet  wide  in  section  27.  from  which 
they  obtained  sami)les  assaying  from  $4  to  ii;26  in  gold  and 
2  to  2\U  per  cent  copper. 

In  section  26.  on  Mitclicl  f'reek.  they  rej^ort  veins  carrying 
from  21  ■_.  to  10  per  cent  copjxM-. 


MERCED  COUNTY. 


Jose  Copper  Claim. —  I^ocated  in  the  Coast  Range  in  sec- 
tion 4.  township  14  north,  range  9  east.  aV)out  thirty-five  miles 
east  of  Ilollister.  the  nearest  railroad  station.  The  development 
has  exposed  cpiite  a  body  of  ore,  but  so  far  the  ledge  has  not 
been  located.  There  is  a  tunnel  500  feet  long,  but  little  ore 
was  encountered.  A  30-foot  shaft  was  sunk  and  a  drift  run 
about  HO  feet,  exposing  a  good  body  of  coi)]ier  ore.  The  ore 
was  chalcopyrite.  running  liigh  in  gold  and  silver  values.  Idle. 
R.  Jose,  of  Ilollister.  owner. 


172  THE  COPPER  RESOURCES  OF  CALIFORNIA. 

The  Victor  Bonanza  Group. — Located  in  sections  30  and 
31,  township  13  south,  ranj^e  10  west,  and  sections  14,  15,  16, 
23,  24,  and  25,  township  13  south,  range  9  west,  sixteen  miles 
southwest  of  Dos  Palos,  and  thirty-five  miles  southeast  of 
Ilollister.  The  croppings  show  a  mineralized  belt  extending' 
five  or  six  miles,  and  varying-  from  100  to  200  feet  in  width. 
Native  copper  and  chalcopyrite  are  found  frequently  in  the 
croppings.  The  formation  is  sandstone  and  porphyry.  The 
ledge  matter  is  quartz.  Practicalh^  no  development  has  been 
done,  but  the  surface  indications  are  good.  ^l.  T.  Dooling, 
of  Hollister,  is  president  of  the  company. 


SAN  BENITO  COUNTY. 

Lewis  Creek  Claim. — The  property  is  located  on  Lewis 
Creek,  the  southern  boundary  of  San  Benito  County.  It  is 
sixteen  miles  from  King  City,  on  the  Southern  Pacific  Railroad, 
and  in  sections  2,  3,  and  4,  township  19  south,  range  10  west. 
The  development  consists  of  a  100-foot  tunnel,  which  was 
intended  to  tap  the  ledge,  but  missed  it.  Nothing  could  be 
learned  further  than  Avhat  could  be  determined  from  the  crop- 
pings. The  croppings  may  be  traced  for  four  miles.  The  ore 
is  chiefly  chalcopyrite.  The  formation  is  sandstone  and  ser- 
pentine. G.  AV.  Spencer,  of  Hollister.  and  F.  AV.  Saffel.  of 
Lonoak,  owners. 


SAN  LUIS  OBISPO  COUNTY. 


Los  Osos  Mine. — Located  ciglit  miles  southwest  of  San 
Luis  Obispo,  and  on  the  south  side  of  Los  Osos  Valley.  The 
mine  was  worked  forty  years  ago,  and  the  ore  hauled  l)y  wagon 
to  Port  Harford  and  shipped  to  Swansea.  There  is  a  good 
wagon  road   from   tlic   mines  to   San  T^uis   Obispo.     The   ore 


SAN  LUIS  OBISPO  CorXTY — COPPER  CLAIMS.  173 

(u-i'urs  ill  a  porphyritic  win  in  sandstone  and  shab/s.  A 
shaft  230  feet  deep  was  sunk  on  the  ledge,  a  tunnel  235  feet 
long  was  run  to  the  bottom  of  the  shaft,  and  good  ore  was 
found  in  the  shaft  and  the  tunnel.  The  works  were  not 
properly  i^rotected  and  were  allowed  to  cave  in,  eouvsequently 
all  observations  had  to  be  made  from  the  surface.  Instate  of 
J.  M.  ( Heaves,  San  Francisco,  owner. 

Tiptop  Claim. — T.ot-atcd  tm  miles  north  of  San  Luis  Obispo 
and  three  miles  southwest  of  Santa  Margarita,  a  station  on 
the  Southern  Pacific  Railroad.  There  is  a  ledge  14  inches 
wide,  carrying  native  copper.  The  country  rock  is  shale  and 
serpentine.  No  development  has  lieen  done.  A.  Guillemin.  of 
Santa  Margarita,  owner. 

On  the  same  ledge  is  the  Gloria  and  the  Tassajara  mines, 
similar  to  tlie  Tiptop,  and  owned  by  Mrs.  R.  Childs  and  F. 
Flores,  of  San  Luis  Obispo.  No  development  work  has  been 
done. 

Prodigal  Son. — Six  miles  east  of  Cayueos,  l)etween  Toro 
and  Old  ereeks.  and  twenty-two  miles  west  of  San  Luis  Obispo. 
The  development  consists  of  a  50-foot  shaft  on  the  ledge  and 
100  feet  of  tunneling  intended  to  tap  the  ledge  130  feet  below 
the  collar  of  the  shaft.  At  the  time  of  visit,  the  tunnel  had  not 
intersected  the  ledge.  The  ledge  is  apparently  about  7  feet 
wide,  carrying  chalcopyrite,  gold,  and  silver.  The  gangue  is 
quartz.  The  formation  is  syenite  and  serpentine.  E.  P.  Lor- 
intr.  of  fnyueos.  owner. 

Sky  Scraper. —  Located  seven  miles  east  of  Cayueos,  on 
upper  Toro  Creek,  and  about  twenty  miles  west  of  San  Luis 
Obispo.  The  development  consists  of  two  tunnels,  crosscutting 
the  vein,  one  250  feet  and  the  other  103  feet  long.  "Where  the 
tunnels  tap  the  vein  the  ledge  appears  to  be  about  10  feet  wide. 
The  ledge  is  porphyry,  the  formation  granite,  and  the  ore  chal- 
copyrite.    "William  Drought,  of  Caj'ucos,  owner. 

Schneider  &  McCles  Claim. — On  San  Bernardo  Creek,  seven 
miles  east  oi"  Mnrni.  The  owners  had  just  begun  to  develop 
and  had  not  encountered  the  ledge  in  the  tunnel.  Eight  men 
were  employed  developing.  Schneider  &  INfcCles.  of  ^Morro, 
owners. 


174  THE  COPPER  RESOURCES  OF  CALIP^ORNIA. 

Refugio  Claim. — Located  on  Chorro  Crci'k,  about  seven 
miles  uortli  of  San  Luis  Obispo,  on  the  west  side  of  the  moun- 
tain. The  development  consists  of  a  135-foot  tunnel.  A  -t-foot 
ledge,  carrying  native  copper  and  sulphide  ore,  was  encoun- 
tered. The  fonuation  is  granite  and  serpentine.  ]Mrs.  R. 
Childs  and  F.  Flores,  of  San  Luis  Obispo,  owners. 

Guerro  Claim. — Located  one-quarter  mile  north  of  Ser- 
I'ano  station  and  six  miles  from  San  Luis  ()l)isp().  The  ledge 
is  in  serpentine  and  shows  copper  in  the  ('i'()[)pings.  ^Irs.  K. 
Childs  and  F.  Flores.  of  San  Luis  Obispo,  owners. 

Guadalupe  Claim. — Located  one  and  a  half  miles  from 
Serrano  station  and  six  miles  from  San  Luis  Obispo.  The 
croppings  show  a  ledge  of  quartz  2  feet  wide  in  serpentine. 
^Irs.  R.  Childs  and  F.  Flores.  of  San  Tiuis  (Obispo,  owners. 


THE  SIERRA  NEVADA  BELT. 


The  Sierra  Nevada  Mountain  range  contains  copper  deposits 
in  wider  distributiou  and  probably  in  greater  total  (juantity 
than  any  of  the  other  general  geographical  divisions  of  Cali- 
fornia by  which  the  copper  resources  of  the  State  have  been 
classified.  Copper  ores  have  been  found  practically  through- 
out the  length  and  breadth  of  the  range,  which  runs  for  about 
500  miles  through  the  eastern  side  of  the  State,  with  a  width 
of  from  50  to  75  miles.  The  deposits  are  mainly  concentrated 
ahmg  a  mineral  belt  which  appears  high  in  the  range  to  the 
north,  sweeps  southwestward  toward  the  central  valley  of  the 
State,  and  then  continues  for  about  300  miles  southeasterly 
through  the  western  foothills,  to  disappear  in  Kern  County 
near  the  southern  end  of  the  range. 

Here  is  a  definite  copper  belt  approximately  400  miles  long. 
From  Nevada  County  southward  it  is  known  as  the  Foothill 
Belt,  .qnd  with  it  the  history  of  the  copper  industry  of  Cali- 
fornia up  to  1896  is  mainly  associated.  The  other  copper 
deposits  of  the  range  occur,  with  wide  intervals,  along  both 
slopes,  mainly  in  the  ba.se-ore  mineral  regions  of  the  higher 


Till-;   SIERRA    NKVADA    BliLT.  17.") 

portions  of  tin'  raiiirc  <>ii  Imth  sides  of  the  siininiit  line,  iiiid 
espeeicill.v  on  the  eastern  slope  in  Mono  and  Inyo  counties. 
The  copper  deposits  of  these  two  counties  on  the  eastern  side 
of  the  ran^'e.  in  the  (Jreat  liasin.  are  <rrouped  with  those  of 
the  general  arid  reufion  of  southeastern  California.  The  few 
deposits  alon^'  the  iii^dier  western  slope  are  little  known  ami 
sli<,'htly  e.\i)lored.  They  carry  also  liie  precious  and  baser 
metals,  and  some  surface  prospects  ;il  hiirh  altitudes  indicate 
ore  hodies  of  possil)le  future  value  Throu^diout  the  ])ase-ore 
belt  of  the  hi^di  Sierras,  wliieh  mining'  enterprise  has  not  yet 
reached,  and  which  has  yet  been  but  very  slightly  prospected, 
copper  will  probal)ly  be  freijuently  found  in  the  mineralized 
zones.  Along  the  middle  slopc^  are  here  and  there  copper- 
liearing  prospects  worthy  of  incidental  note. 

Interest,  however,  is  here  centered  in  the  belt  along  the 
western  flank  of  the  range,  in  which  are  the  important 
developed  copper  mines  of  the  State  outside  of  Shasta  County, 
and  which  holds  much  of  the  industry's  promise  for  the  future. 
It  is  an  important  feature  of  the  gold  as  well  as  the  copper 
resources  of  the  State.  The  foothill  mineral  belt,  as  generally 
recognized,  stretches  from  northern  Nevada  County  for  about 
250  miles  southward  into  Tulare  County.  For  about  this  dis- 
tance it  has  a  continuity  and  a  regularity  of  course  that  easily 
establish  its  identity,  and  from  either  end  it  may  be  some- 
what vaguely  traced  farther  by  a  series  of  occasional  mineral 
deposits.  There  is  but  a  general  warrant  of  convenience  for 
regarding  the  belt  as  prolonged  northeasterly  into  the  higher 
slope  and  for  coiiceiviiig  the  4()()-mile  string  of  copper  deposits 
of  this  slojx'  as  constituting  one  copper  belt.  So  regarded,  this 
belt  exhibits  a  definite  beginning  at  the  north  by  the  southern 
edge  of  the  lava  sheet  that  covers  so  many  thousand  srpiare 
miles  of  the  mountainous  northeastern  part  of  the  State. 
Such  a  definite  beginning  is  found  on  the  southern  slope  of  the 
Diamond  ^Mountain  range  along  the  northern  l)order  of  Plumas 
County,  over  100  miles  south  of  the  Oregon  boundary.  In 
this  region  are  bunched,  in  three  or  four  townships,  some  of 
the  large  and  probably  important  deposits  of  the  belt.  This  is 
about  75  miles  southwest  of  the  eastern  end  of  the  Shasta 
County  copper  belt,  and  this  intervening  space  is  buried  by 
the  lavas  which  hide  all  mineral  formations  except  where  they 


176  THE  COPPER  RESOURCES  OF  C.VLIFORNIA. 

are  revealed  ueeasioualiy  hy  erosion.  Halfway  on  the  direct 
line  between  these  points  is  the  extinct  volcanic  peak  of  Lassen 
Butte.  It  is  likely  that  copper-bearing  ores  underlie  this  vol- 
canic blanket,  connecting  the  deposits  of  the  Sierra  slope  with 
those  of  Shasta  and  Siskiyou  counties  to  the  northwest,  and 
making  one  great  copper  belt  reaching  for  al)Out  600  miles 
through  the  eastern  and  north-central  parts  of  the  State  into 
Oregon. 

North  of  tlie  Plumas  County  l)oundary,  in  southern  Lassen 
County,  there  have  been  found  slight  occurrences  of  copper 
minerals,  mainly  as  float,  l)ut  no  deposits  worthy  of  note  have 
been  revealed  in  this*  much-disturlied  and  lava-buried  region. 
Farther  north  in  eastern  ^Modoc  County,  in  the  Warner  range 
of  mountains  belonging  to  the  Great  Basin,  there  are  similar 
slight  indications  of  copper  deposits,  but  they  do  not  belong 
to  the  Sierra  belt. 

The  groups  of  deposits  in  northern  Plumas  County  com- 
prise the  important  discovered  ones  of  the  large  northern 
section  of  the  belt  above  the  terminus  of  the  recognized  Foot- 
liill  Belt  in  Nevada  County.  In  the  regions  of  Indian  and 
Genesee  vallej's  are  extensive  gossan-capped  vein  formations, 
carrying  copper,  gold,  and  silver,  and  some  of  them  con- 
siderably prospected.  They  are  in  the  Sierra  gold  belt  and 
adjacent  to  producing  gold  districts.  All  carry  sulphides  at 
a  little  depth.  Distance  from  railroads  has  been  a  severe 
handicap  to  their  development.  A  small  smelter  which  oper- 
ated for  a  short  time  on  surface  oxides  and  carbonates  was 
built  here  in  an  early  day.  and  a  little  rich  ore  has  since  been 
shipped.  For  perhaps  50  miles  southward  through  Plumas 
and  then  westerly  through  Sierra  County  occasional  occur- 
rences mark  the  course  of  tlie  belt  into  western  Nevada 
County,  where  the  foothill  series  of  deposits  begins. 

From  this  point  southward  the  foothill  belt  exists  as  a  great 
fissure  system  along  the  base  of  the  range.  Its  northern  end 
is  about  25  miles  north  of  the  northern  terminus  of  the  ^Mother 
Lode  in  El  Dorado  County,  and  it  parallels  that  great  lode 
throughout  its  length  of  125  miles,  running  from  5  to  20  miles 
to  its  west,  with  an  average  distance  of  about  12  miles.  The 
belt  nins  through  the  lower  western  ends  of  the  counties  of 
the  slope,  but  a  few  miles  east  of  the  floor  of  the  valley  and 


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I'M  MAS    AM)    SIliKKA    COl'XTIKS.  Ill 

tlinniirli  \ho  principal  airi-iciiltiiral  and  lioiticultural  portions 
of  tlifsc  (dimtit's.  'I'hf  climalt'  is  that  ot"  tlic  pojuilous  portion 
of  the  central  intci'ior  of  llic  State.  The  croppinj^s  of  tlie 
iiiinei'al  deposits  of  the  belt  ranire  in  altitude  from  300  to 
noO  feet  in  Nevada  and  I'lacei'  counties  to  several  hundred,  or, 
in  places.  2000  feet  in  the  counties  to  the  southwai'd.  reacli- 
in<r  still  higher  altitudes  toward  the  southern  end  of  tlie  belt. 
The  belt  is  pai'alleled  at  20  to  :i()  miles  by  two  main  railroad 
lines  i-unniny,'  through  the  eastern  side  of  llie  valle.w  and  it  is 
reached  or  crossed  by  several  branch  lines  at  different  points 
alon^  its  course.  Conditions  are  in  ^encM'al  exceptionally 
favorable  to  the  nnnini;'  industry. 

The  belt  is  (piite  re«iulai-ly  and  continuousl\-  traced  b\-  sur- 
face ^'ossan  formations,  and  thousands  of  mininu:  claims  have 
been  taken  up  aloiii:'  it.  chieH\'  in  eai-|y  days.  A  large  portion 
of  it.  especially  in  tlu'  northern  and  central  parts,  is  included 
in  patented  aui'icult  iiral  lands.  1  hind I'eds  of  minin*;  properties 
are  now  lield  as  siicli.  and  a  niimhei-  of  valu<d)le  mines,  pro- 
ductive, idle,  or  in  course  of  ilevelopment,  are  strung  through- 
out its  course  along  the  base  of  the  slope.  From  one  end  to 
the  otiiei'  copper  deposits  occui'  at  iiitei'vals. 


PLUMAS  AND  SIERRA  COUNTIES. 

That  section  of  the  great  copper  belt  of  the  Sierras  that  lies 
high  along  the  middle  slope  courses  for  about  70  miles  south- 
ward across  Plumas  and  Sierra  lounties  to  then  turn  westward 
through  Nevada  County  to  the  lower  foothills.  At  the  very 
northern  end  of  the  belt,  in  upper  Plunuis  County,  ai-e  some  of 
the  notal)le  unworUed  coi-jier  deposits  of  the  State,  and  this 
county's  copper  resources  have  received  attention  since  early 
mining  days. 

Besides  pre.senting  a  mineralized  copper-bearing  belt  of 
similar  nature  and  course,  the.se  counties  have  so  much  in 
eonunon  in  the  way  of  geographical,  topographical,  and  geo- 
logical features  that  they  may  be  appropriately  taken  together 
here.  Both  lie  in  the  heart  of  the  Sierras,  reaching  from  the 
12— BiL.  50 


178  THE  COPPER  RESOURCES  OF  CALIFORNIA. 

Nevada  state  line  across  the  crest  of  the  range,  and  finding 
their  western  l)Oundaries  higli  al)Ove  tlie  foothills  that  are 
oiiiln'aced  in  all  the  other  mountain  counties  traversed  by  this 
])elt.  riumas  has  a  length  of  75  miles  east  and  west  and  an 
extreme  width  of  50  mik^s.  Sierra  is  a  nnich  smaller  county. 
The  lowest  altitude  in  either  county  is  about  2000  feet,  and 
the  main  mineral  districts  lie  between  4000  and  7000  feet 
above  the  sea.  About  this  region  rise  some  of  the  higher 
peaks  of  the  range,  and  Ixtth  counties  present  the  rugged  sur- 
face and  scenic  grandeur,  as  well  as  the  abundant  forests, 
streams,  and  lakes  conniion  to  the  higher  slope.  Plumas  is 
wholly  drained  by  the  Feather  River,  and  Sierra  by  the 
Feather  and  Ynba  and  their  tributaries,  and  these  streams 
have  cut  precipitous  canyons  often  2000  feet  deep.  A  wealth 
of  water  power  is  thus  available.  ]\Iinor  portions  of  the  areas 
of  these  counties  are  occupied  by  small  fertile  valleys,  chiefly 
in  Plumas  County.  It  is  in  and  about  Indian  and  Genesee 
valleys  in  northern  Plumas  County  that  the  main  copper 
deposits  are  grouped. 

Plumas  and  Sierra  are  almost  exclusively  mining  counties, 
and  their  copper  deposits  are  in  the  midst  of  large  and  prom- 
ising quartz  mining  districts.  The  great  auriferous  slate  belt 
of  the  Sierras  crosses  botli  counties  north  and  .south,  present- 
ing a  series  of  quartz  veins  through  a  zone  in  places  more  than 
20  miles  wide.  The  copper  belt  is  characteristically  along  the 
western  side  of  the  zone,  and  runs  soutliward  through  the 
middle  of  Plumas  County  and  the  western  end  of  Sierra. 
Both  counties  have,  since  early  days,  been  among  the  great 
gold-mining  counties  of  the  State.  Their  early  placers  were 
very  ricli  and  both  have  shared  with  Nevada  County  the  pa.st 
glory  and  i)rosperity  of  hydraulic  mining  on  this  slope  and  the 
rich  rewards  of  drift  mining,  since  both  extensively  share  the 
vast  auriferous  gi'avcls  of  the  system  of  "dead  rivers"  of 
Tertiary  times.  Wliile  both  counties  have  varied  mineral 
riches,  gold  has  been  practically  the  sole  mineral  product  to 
date.  Coal,  copper,  niai-ble,  iron,  asbestos,  etc..  await  more 
favorable  economic  conditions.  Both  counties  are  in\nting 
fiields  for  mining  enterprise. 

Plumas  County  is  entered  from  Lassen  County  at  the  north 
over  the  crest  of  the  Diamond  ^lountain  ranire.  and  from  lliis 


PLUMAS    AND    SIERRA    COUNTIES.  17'J 

point  tluTc  is  a  i-ai)i(l  dt'sccnt  of :{()()()  fret  in  12  miles,  through 
Liirhts  C'anyuii.  to  Ibc  nortli  arm  of  Tiidiaii  N'allcy.  Along 
cither  side  of  Lights  Canyon,  a  few  miles  south  of  the  eounty 
ltoundar\.  ai-e  groups  of  eojiper  claims  with  i)i"omising  sui'face 
indieatioMs.  which  are  strengthened  l)y  the  indications  atl'orded 
l»y  numei-ous  shafts,  tuiniels.  and  cuts  reaching  to  no  great 
(le|iili.  l"'r(  111  1\\()  Liroiips  of  claims  some  ore  has  been  shipped 
in  pa.st  years.  Lights  Canyon  opens  on  the  south  into  Indian 
N'alley.  across  which,  in  the  i-cLiioii  of  Tayloi^xille,  are  otliei- 
promising  copper  pi-ospeets,  slightly  developed.  Stretching 
for  several  miles  east  of  Tayloi'vilje  iiilo  Genesee  Valley  and 
its  inclosing  hills  are  the  prospects  comprised  in  the  Genesee 
di.strict.  One  of  these,  foi-merly  th(>  Cosmopolitan,  ami  now 
the  Hewartl,  was  discovered  in  LS()2,  and  in  1863-()4,  during  the 
copper  boom  of  that  period,  was  e(juipped  with  a  small  ojien- 
hearth  smelting  plant  at  a  cost  of  $:i(),()0().  A  few  tons  of 
nuitte  were  ju'oduced  and  ship|)ed,  but,  as  the  surface  car- 
lionates  and  oxides  were  succeeded  at  a  iilljc  depth  iiy  snl- 
l)hi(les,  the  process  and  i)lan1  soon  pi-oved  a  failiiic.  The  I'est 
of  the  stoiy  of  |)i-ogress  is  one  of  claim-holdiiiL;  tor  I'oi'ty  years. 
with  occasioiud  s|uii-ts  of  snudl  development  operations.  In 
many  instances  the  vein  fonnations  in  which  the  ores  occur 
are  Avide  and  strong,  and  copper  ores  of  high  grade  are  found 
carrying  good  values  in  gold  ami  silver.  The  courses  of  the 
copper-bearing  veins  are  frequently  marked  by  gossan  cappings. 
The  contiguous  districts  thus  descril)ed  are  embraced  in  an 
area  about  Id  miles  wide  and  1.")  miles  long  from  north  to  south, 
in  tioi'tli-ceiit  ral  Plumas  County,  and  only  minor  occurrences 
iiiai-k-  llie  copper  belt  s\)uthward  through  I'liiiii;!s  and  Sierra  to 
Nevada  County.  There  are  sporadic  deposits  ea.st  and  west  of 
this  licit,  includiiiL;  norlhwest  Plimias  ('oimly  on  a  line  with 
the  Shasta  County  belt,  but  the  mineral  resources  of  western 
Plumas  are  mainly  buried  by  the  great  lava  sheet,  near  the 
edye  of  which  are  the  chief  districts  described. 


PLUMAS  COUNTY  DEPOSITS. 

Montgomery  Group. — Alxuit  one  mile  south  of  Taylorville 
is  the  J'ettinger  mine.  Owners,  J.  1).  Williams  et  al.  In  this 
mine  the  ores  are  mainly  carbonate,  with  some  sulphide.  The 
openings  consist  of  a  shaft  60  feet  deep,  with  southerly  drift 


180  THE  COPPER  RESOURCES  OF  CALIFORNIA. 

100  feet  loiiy.  Tlie  vein  formation  is  6  feet  witle.  There  is 
some  good  earhonate  ore  on  the  dump.  A  tunnel  30  feet  long, 
higher  up  the  gulch,  shows  a  vein  several  feet  in  thickness  and 
the  same  class  of  ore.  Other  claims  higiier  up  the  mountain 
have  open  cuts  on  them,  which  are  noticeable  mainly  because 
they  show  heavy 'gossan  cappings.  There  is  also  exposed  on 
this  mountain  a  very  heavy  and  almost  pure  deposit  of 
pyrites,  about  40  feet  wide,  containing  a  small  percentage  of 
copper. 

Polar  Star. — To  the  north  from  the  highAvay  leading  from 
Taylorville  to  Flournoys  and  up  the  mountain  is  the  Polar 
Star  mine,  owned  by  ^Messrs.  Cox.  Keasy,  and  Cooksey.  and 
now  controlled  by  J.  D.  Williams.  This  mine  is  tive  miles 
southeast  from  Taylorville.  it  is  openeil  by  a  tunnel  and  an 
open  cut.  The  tunnel  passes  through  the  vein,  which  is  10 
feet  tliick.  and  runs  some  distance  ahead  in  the  east  wall.  The 
cut  is  in  a  l)ody.  or  vein,  of  good  ore.  Tlic  ore  is  peacock,  sul- 
phide and  carbonate  of  copper,  with  considerable  red  oxide  in 
seams  and  bunches.  The  mountain  and  ad.jjHcut  country  are 
heavily  timbered  with  i>iue  and  tir.    Water  is  plentiful. 

Blue  Bell  Mining  Co. — Along  the  road  toward  Genesee, 
about  a  mile  beyond  llosslekuss's.  a  limestone  belt  ]>asses 
through  the  country  in  a  northeast  and  southwest  direction. 
At  the  apex  of  a  hill  on  this  belt  are  some  heavy  croppings 
to  get  under  which  the  Blue  Bell  ]\Iining  rompauy,  J.  J.  Sulli- 
van, superintendent,  ran  a  tunnel  whicli  has  intersected  seven 
veins  of  impoi-tancc. 

Reward  (formerly  Cosmopolitan). — Belonging  to  the  Re- 
ward and  Bcckwitli  group:  Ahssis.  Salinger.  Emerick,  and 
Rosenthal,  owners.  Adjoins  the  Blue  Bell  group  on  the  east. 
The  vein  is  intersected  by  a  tunnel  100  feet  below  the  surface, 
which  is  exposed  2  to  6  feet  in  width.  Two  tunnels  tap  the 
ore  body.  The  upper  oiu^  is  175  feet  long,  and  the  lower  one, 
900  feet  long,  reaches  a  depth  of  400  feet  below  croppings.  A 
shaft  125  feet  deep  (caved)  is  on  the  higher  portion  of  the 
claim.  Ore  on  tlie  dump  appears  to  be  of  good  grade.  The 
veins  lie  between  granodiorite  on  the  east  and  limestone  on  the 
west.  In  1863-64  there  was  an  old  smelter  at  Coppertown, 
near  Hosslekuss 's.  in  which  was  smelted  several  hundred  tons 


PLUMAS    COUNTY    DEPOSITS.  181 

(if  »>i-i'  frtmi  the  Cosmopolitan.  Tln'  product  was  sul)s«nnuMi11y 
.sent  to  Swansea.  At  the  site  of  this  snieltcr  tluTc  still  remain 
al)out  7.")  tons  of  ore,  such  as  was  then  smelted.  The  facilities 
for  openinii'  up  hotli  of  the  above  properties,  vi/,..  Blue  Ucll 
and   Keward   irroups.  are  excellent. 

The  Duncan  Mine. — At  the  north  end  of  Genesee  Valley  is 
a  »rrou|)  of  twelve  locations,  known  as  the  Duncan  mine.  They 
extend  from  M.lOO  to  5400  feet  altitude,  and  are  situated  west 
of  and  near  to  Indian  Creek,  one  mile  fi'om  its  couHuence  with 
Ked  Clover  Creek,  and  half  a  mile  from  Flournoys  ranch. 
The  locations  cover  i)arts  of  sections  ;^0  and  :^1.  township  2(5 
north.  ran«,'e  12  east.  Blount  Diablo  meritlian.  The  mine  is 
located  on  a  broad,  but  rujrfred  and  exceedin<rly  steep  ridsre, 
projecting  southward  from  the  main  rantre.  and  is  accessible 
liy  means  of  a  short  waiion  track  .iiid  ti-ail.  The  development 
consists  of  two  tunnels  and  several  cuts  along  the  outcrop  of 
a  vein  belt.  The  geological  formation  at  the  mine  consists 
of  thiidy  bedded  mica  schists,  standing  nearly  vertical,  alter- 
nating with  luu'row  bands  of  a  tine-grained  granite.  South 
and  west  of  the  mine  ai)pears  a  broad  belt  of  granodiorite  or 
gabbro.  which  by  its  bold  outcrop  becomes  very  prominent  near 
Fldurnoys.  at  the  crossing  of  Indian  Creek.  Masses  of  a 
dark  brown  garnet  rock  are  found  as  float  along  the  trail 
leading  up  the  mountain.  The  lower  tunnel  enters  at  an 
elevation  of  400  feet  above  Duncan's  camp,  and  crosscuts  the 
mica  schist  for  144  feet  without  developing  an  ore  body. 
At  800  feet  elevation  the  upper  tunnel  enters  the  vein  belt 
on  the  strike  of  the  schist,  and  for  nearly  its  whole  length 
of  140  feet  follows  the  edge  of  a  sheet  or  lens  of  garnet  rock 
impregnated  with  copper  glance,  from  which  some  rich  copper 
ores  have  been  o])tained.  A  30-foot  crosscut  has  been  run 
northerly  from  the  face  of  the  tunnel.  At  1800  feet  elevation 
the  sunnnit  cut  has  been  run  30  feet,  parallel  with  the  schist, 
developing  some  ore  of  the  same  character  as  that  in  the  upper 
tunnel.  From  this  cut.  as  well  as  the  tunnel  below,  some  ore 
lias  l)een  shipped  to  a  smelter.  Various  shallow  cuts  and  pits 
along  the  trail  show  ore  in  small  quantities,  both  sulphide  and 
car])onates.  nearly  always  in  association  with  garnet  rock  or 
with  rhodenite,  of  which  occasionally  larger  bodies  occur. 
Fpidote  is  fjuite  abundant,  and  often  forms  veins  in  the  garnet 


182  THE  COPPER  RESOURCES  OF  CALIFORNIA. 

rock.  Crystals  of  rhodonite  in  a  white  fVhlspar  occur  as  Hoat, 
and  also  occasionally  black  tourmaline.  The  fiarnet  rock, 
which  appeals  to  be  the  principal  ore  carrier,  is  generally  com- 
posed of  a  dark  l)rown  lime-iron  garnet,  with  a  small  amount 
of  epidote,  but  a  light  yellow  as  well  as  a  black  variety  is 
also  abundant.  Most  of  the  garnet  rock  when  not  cupriferous 
carries  gold  reported  in  payable  fiuantities,  and  freciuently 
becomes  a  high-grade  gold  ore.  When  rich  in  coppci-  glance 
it  also  carries  both  gold  and  silver.  Ore  samples  from  the 
northerninost  location  show  copper  pyrites  dis.seminat('d  in  a 
fine-grained  mica  .schist.  E.xteusive  exploration  will  be 
required  to  determine  'the  boundaries  of  the  vein  belt  at  tliis 
mine  and  define  the  extent  of  the  copper-bearing  zone.  The 
owners  are  A.  W.  Whitney,  of  Crescent  INIilLs,  and  J.  B.  Duncan 
and  C.  H.  Hook ;  post  ofifice  address,  Genesee. 

The  Shoofly  Copper  Mine. — The  Shoofly  deposit  occurs 
partly  on  a  high-grade,  gravelly  bench  on  the  north  bank  of 
Indian  Creek,  which  here  has  cut  its  way  through  a  deep  and 
broad  gorge  surrounded  by  precipitous  mountains  rising  2000 
feet  above  the  bed  of  the  stream.  The  twenty-one  locations 
comprising  the  property  are  situated  in  sections  32  and  33, 
township  26  north,  range  9  east,  and  in  sections  3,  4.  and  10, 
township  25  north,  range  9  east,  and  M-ith  the  Shoofly  ranch, 
patented,  on  which  the  first  discovery  of  copper  ore  was  made, 
extend  in  a  general  northwest-southeast  direction,  parallel  with 
the  strike  of  the  underlying  schists.  The  copper  ore  occurs 
disseminated  in  a  (juartz-schist.  with  a  nearly  vertical  dip; 
with  clay  slates  to  the  west  and  a  series  of  igneous  rocks, 
chiefly  i)()rphyrites  to  the  east.  The  copper-liearing  vein  belt 
is  believed  to  follow  the  center  line  of  the  locations  with  an 
average  width  of  80  feet.  Its  copper  contents,  so  far  as  now 
explored,  are  given  at  nearly  2  per  cent.  The  copper  ores 
here  noted  are  generally  bornite,  with  ])lue  and  green  carl^on- 
ates,  which  latter  are  constantly  forming  at  the  surface  from 
a  leaching  action.  The  ore  occurs  in  minute  sheets  and  lenses 
between  the  much  contorted  laminations  of  the  schist,  which 
everywhere  exhibits  the  action  of  compressive  forces.  In 
general  structure  it  resembles  strikingly  that  of  the  copper- 
bearing  schists  of  Calaveras  County.  Besides  numerous  sur- 
face cuts,  the  ])rincipal  development  on  the  prop(n"ty  consists 


.^ 


COPPER    CROPPINGS.    WILLIAMS    CLAIMS.    OEXESEK. 
PLUMAS    COrNTY. 


MOUNTAIN-    ON    WHICH    IS    LOCATED    THE    DUNCAN    GROUP    OF 

COPPER   MINES.    GENESEE.    PLUMAS   COUNTY, 

NEAR  FLOURNOYS. 


164  TUK  CUl'l'EK   KKSOIRCKS  OF  CALIFORNIA. 

of  a  tunnel  80  feet  lon<r  erosseuttinji:  the  strata.  It  enters  on 
■the  bank  of  Indian  Creek  within  the  boundaries  of  the  Shoofly 
Rancli.  Work  on  the  property  is  in  progress.  Owner,  G.  H. 
Goodhue:  post  office  address.  Quincy. 

The  Peters  Mine. — Tliis  mine  is  situated  on  the  eastern 
border  of  the  north  arm  of  Indian  Valley,  at  3600  feet  altitude, 
and  is  located  in  the  southwest  (|uarter  of  section  7.  township 
26  north,  range  11  east,  IMount  Diablo  meridian.  It  lies  at 
the  foot  of  the  Indian  Range.  Tlie  ledge  runs  from  5  to  15 
feet,  and  has  a  well-defined  hanging  Avail  formed  by  a  fault 
plane.  Its  strike  averages  north  33  degreas  west,  south  33 
degrees  east,  with  a  dip  of  50  degrees  to  the  southwest.  The 
geological  formation  at  Peters  mine  is  chiefly  felsite  and  felsitic 
porphyry,  occasionally  becoming  schistose;  overlaid  to  the  east 
by  a  red  metaniorphic  scliist,  probably  of  igneous  origin.  The 
ledge  is  evidently  an  impregnation  deposit,  with  the  strongest 
mineralization  next  to  the  hanging  wall.  Above  the  water 
level  its  original  sulphides  of  iron  and  copper  are  largely 
oxidized  and  the  copper  leached  out,  while  the  manganese 
silicate  which  abounds  has  originated  various  oxides,  chiefly 
pyrolusite.  Gold  forms  the  principal  value  above  the  water 
level,  with  from  2  to  3  ])er  cent  of  copper,  as  bornite,  copper 
glance  and  some  carbonates  of  copper.  The  gold  values  often 
run  high  and  so  far  have  alone  been  the  object  of  development. 
The  mine  has  been  Avorked  intermittently  as  a  gold  mine  cA^er 
since  1867.  The  old  mine  openings  have  caved  long  ago.  The 
developments  during  later  years  consist  of  two  tunnels  cross- 
cutting  the  ledge.  Avith  various  drifts,  upraises  and  Avinzes,  Avith 
■a  total  length  of  1700  feet.  W.  T.  Peter,  oAvner;  post  office 
address.  Taylorville. 

Little  Gem  Claim. — i.ocated  on  Ward  Creek.  Avhere  there 
is  a  ledge  opened  by  a  shaft.  The  A'ein  is  from  6  to  18  inches 
in  Avidth,  and  carries  reported  values  of  $17.96  gold  and  31 
ounces  silver  to  the  ton.  and  12.66  per  cent  in  copper. 

Williams  Group. — To  the  Avest  of  Flournoys,  about  one  half 
mile,  is  a  mountain  Avliich  is  coA'ered  by  mining  locations  held 
by  J.  D.  Williams.  On  this  mountain  the  Avhole  outcrop 
appears  to  l)e  heaA'ily  mineralized  by  iron  and  copper  in  the 
form  of  oxides,  carbonates,  and  sulphides.     So  little  develop- 


PIA'MAS    COl'NTY    DEPOSITS.  185 

iiHMit  work  has  boiMi  pt'i-fornu'd  that  no  cstimato  of  the  worth 
of  till'  c-hiiiiis  can  at  the  present  time  he  made.  It  is  douhth'ss 
the  outcrop  of  an  innnense  mineralized  dike. 

Ill  Cnok's  Canyon,  south  of  Mooidi»rht  Creek,  ai-e  two  claims, 
owned  1»\'  Frank  and  (Jeortre  Davis.  o!i  which  there  has  been 
little  development.  The  vein  is  12  to  \'-\  t'eet  wide,  and  shows 
<'arhonate  and  sulphide  ores  of  «;ood  appearance.  It  has  been 
explored  for  800  feet  in  lenjLrtli  by  cuts. 

Engle  Copper  Mining  Co. — This  company,  consisting  of 
Messrs.  p].  \'.  Spencer,  En^le.  and  Adams,  owns  two  claims  on 
Moonliirht  Creek,  in  Lijrhts  Canyon,  where  a  tunnel  al)out  100 
feet  long  shows  a  vein  of  suli)hi(le.  and  an  open  cut  exposes 
the  same  character  of  ore. 

W.  V.  Boyden  has  a  claim  on  f]nterprise  Creek,  from  which 
he  shipped  ore  reported  to  have  yielded  IS  per  cent  cojijK^r  and 
")7  ounces  silver  to  the  ton. 

Engle  Bros,  have  two  claims  on  tlu'  west  .side  of  Liithts 
Canyon,  in  section  18,  township  27  north,  range  11  east,  where 
a  mineralized  vein  about  30  feet  wide,  carrying  sulphides,  is 
shown.  It  is  opened  by  a  tiinni-l  120  feet  long  and  a  shaft 
20  feet  (h'cp. 

On  the  east  side  of  Lights  Canyon,  above  the  residence  of  the 
Engle  Bros.,  are  two  claims.  Superior  Xo.  1  and  Superior 
No.  2.  where  openings  were  made  in  years  past,  and  ore  was 
extracted  and  sliipped.  There  is  an  open  cut  80  feet  long, 
leading  into  a  pit  20  feet  wide  by  15  to  20  feet  high,  with  a 
water-filled  shaft  in  bottom  of  pit  said  to  be  60  feet  deep. 
From  this  j)it  some  samples  of  very  good  ore  were  taken.  This 
ore  contains  a  high  percentage  of  zinc. 

Engle  Bros.  Group. — This  group  of  eight  claims  is  in  sec- 
tions A.  I),  and  4,  township  27  north,  range  11  ea.st.  The  copper 
deposit  is  about  300  feet  wide  and  about  1000  feet  long.  The 
ores  nearer  the  surface  are  mostly  carbonates,  mixed  with  iron 
oxide  and  copper  sulphides.  The  copper  belt  here  is  al)out 
1800  feet  wide.  Reported  assays  are  10  per  cent  copper,  and 
from  !^^2.50  upward  in  gold.  The  ore  body  dips  to  the  west  and 
the  strike  of  the  vein  is  northeast.  The  openings  consist  of 
three  tunnels  and  a  shaft.  Tunnel  Xo.  1  is  100  feet  long,  and 
a  cro.sscut  at  the  end  exposes  13  feet  of  carbonate  ore.    The  vein 


186  THE  COPPER  RESOURCES  OF  CALIFORNIA. 

ou  which  tliis  tunnel  runs  is  100  feet  wide,  and  th(>  end  of  the 
tunnel  is  65  feet  below  the  erojipintrs.  Tunnel  Xo.  2  is  325 
feet  lonu',  with  crosscut  at  end  which  shows  a  widtli  of  45  feet 
of  sulpliide  ore  110  feet  below  the  croppinjis.  Tunnel  Xo.  3 
(lowest)  is  100  feet  lon^,  with  crosscut  at  end  showinu'  87 
feet  of  ore  and  20  feet  of  intermediate  vein  tilling'.  The 
ore  is  carbonate,  and  is  200  feet  below  croppinjis.  Open  cuts 
on  the  surface  show  ore.  Considci'ahlc  ore  lias  Ikm'ii  extracted 
from  these  mines  and  sold.  The  facilities  for  iiiiiiiim-  heiv  are 
good,  and  there  are  exceptional  lunnel  privileges.  Heavy 
growths  of  jiine  and  fir  on  the  locations  and  surrounding 
country  furnish  abundant  mining  timber.  All  the  properties 
included  in  the  Engels  grou])s.  named  herewilh.  are  now 
owned  by  the  Engels  Copper  Minirg  Company  of  California, 
office  30  Liberty  street.  San  Francisco,  Cal.  They  are  divided 
into  tM'o  groups : 

The  Engels  group,  situated  twelve  miles  north  of  Taylor- 
ville  at  5000  feet  elevation,  has  a  strong  gossan  outcrop  200 
feet  wide,  between  a  porphyry  foot  and  a  diorite  hanging  wall, 
of  Avhich  6000  feet  are  covered  by  four  claims  located  end  to 
end.     The  following  samples  are  taken  from  assays  repi>rted : 


Copper     (!.087e  39.407  •_'.'..  13<^ 

Gold    .f;0.41  .$1.08  .$t;5.oo 

Silvei-    .$1.08  $10.98  $3.04 

The  Superior  group  is  located  a  few  miles  southwest  of 
the  former,  in  section  17,  township  27  north,  range  11  east, 
on  Lights  Creek,  near  the  road  from  Indian  Valley  to  Susan- 
ville.  La.ssen  County.  The  formation  is  the  same  as  in  the 
Engels  group,  width  of  lode  between  diorite  and  porphyry 
200  feet,  strike  east  of  iiorlh  .ind  west  of  south,  dip  65  degrees 
east.  A  new  tunnel  has  been  started  and  seams  of  ore  are 
reported  to  come  in  at  200  feet.  It  is  expected  that  tlie  "West- 
ern Pacific  Railroad,  Avhose  main  line  runs  within  twelve  miles 
of  the  property,  will  soon  be  c(Hnjd(^ted.    Assays  i-epoi-ted : 

CopiMM-    4.4.">'c  14.207  1T.3S7  l'4.527o 

Gold    .$0.41  $(».S2  $1.(M>  

Silver     ,$0.."0  .$4.20  $."..04  $7.14 

It  is  also  reportetl  that  analysis  of  the  ores  from  the  various 
claims  showed  the  mixture  to  be  well  adapted  for  smelting. 


I'l.lMAS    COUNTV    DKI'OHITS.  1S( 

Hussleman  &  Shaw  Group. — This  •^^roiii).  in  .M(»(.iili,L:lil 
Civfk  (listiMct.  l^iizlits  (';iii_\(in.  comprises  tliirl  x-onc  locntions. 
(Ill  iicjirly  all  of  whicli  some  (Icvclopiiicnt  lias  Ixm-ii  done.  A 
tiiiiiii'l  has  hccii  startt'(l  well  down  (Ui  tlif  nionnlain  side,  so 
as  to  ol)tain  SOO  to  l(»(i()  feet  of  depth  nndcr  tlic  licaviost 
croppiii'Ts.  This  is  a  crosscnt  tnnml  and  is  now  in  l.")!)  t'cct. 
Till'  iiioimtain  side  hci'c  is  Xi'vy  alirnpt.  l'assin<4  throu'4:h  these 
claiiiis  is  also  a  hiirhly  niiiicrali/cd  licit,  whii'li  <-iuitains  masses 
of  hiudi-Ltrade  oi'c. 

Oil  the  Mammoth  claim  of  the  alio\'c  uroup  the  vein  trends 
northeast  and  southwest.  Several  (»pen  cuts  show  sulphide 
ore  as  well  as  earhonates.  A  eappiii<>:  of  diorite  eovers  a  vein 
about  8  feet  wide,  as  shown  in  the  lar«rest  eut.  The  cappin»r 
lies  flat  and  the  \('in  is  perpendicular.  There  is  a  ci'osscul  on 
the  Vein  1(1  reel  in  Icnulli.  with  11(1  wall  discoNcrcd.  A  uiiod 
tpiality  id"  iron  and  copper  |)yriles  is  shown  in  face  of  cut. 
The  same  ela.ss  of  ore  is  traced  northerly  1)\'  cuts  foi-  900  feet. 

( )ii    the   Orient    claim    a    tunnel   has    heeii    dri\-eii    150    feet. 

On  ihc  mounlain  side  and  follow  iiiLf  the  couise  of  the  p?'o- 
posed  tunnel  twelve  hnlf^^es  are  encountered,  all  e.\posed  by 
open  cuts.  The  widest  vein  is  found  near  the  ajx'X  of  the 
hill  and  is  about  l.'J  feet  wide.  It  is  opened  by  an  extensive 
eut.  and  from  it  (U'c  has  been  extracted  and  shipped.  The 
character  (d'  the  ore  is  carbonate  with  some  sulphide.  The 
(Jentle  Anni("  claim  is  [prospected  with  open  cuts  showiiu:-  a 
vein  ()  to  >^  feet  in  width.  The  oi'c  is  mostly  silicimis  cai'i-yiuir 
red  oxide,  carbonates,  aiul  i)yi'ites.  and  can  be  ti'aeed  for  over 
800  feet.  Claims  Xos.  1  and  2  have  a  shaft  ^'^  feet  deep, 
showini;  peacock  copper  ore  in  the  bottom.  Near  by  is  a  belt 
exjiosinir  on  the  surface  iron  oxides.  The  width  of  the  copper 
vein  is  unknown.  Assays  from  these  claims  are  reported  as 
shovvintr  from  10  to  60  per  cent  co[)per. 

On  the  Ore.tron  claim  at  the  east  end  there  is  a  shaft  13  feet 
deep,  all  in  Lireen  and  bliie-staiiied  (U'e.  said  to  contain  I'd  per 
cent  (d"  copper  and  rich  in  iiold.  Some  copper  <jlaiice  is  also 
visible  in  this  ore.  There  are  three  cuts  on  this  vein,  besides 
a  shaft,  all  sliowinL.--  s;ime  varieties  of  ore.  '^fhe  sti'ik'e  of  the 
vein  is  south  n\'  west.  The  north  wall  is  diabase,  the  south 
diorite.  The  west  end  of  the  Ore<;on  is  opened  by  a  superficial 
cut.  Mhich  discloses  some  o:ood  carbonate  and  silieions  ore  that 


188  THE  COPPER  RESOURCES  OF  CALIFORNIA. 

is  reported  to  assay  48  per  cent  copper  and  $14  in  f?old.  with 
15  ounces  of  silver.  A  vein  parallel  with  the  main  om^  just 
described  also  shows  ^iootl  ore.  The  veins  are  wide.  l)iit  the 
width,  owing  to  lack  of  development,  can  not  be  determined. 

On  the  Olympian  claim  a  vein  outcrops  and  is  exposed  30 
feet  in  width  of  carbonate  ore.  in  an  open  cul.  Lower  down 
the  hillside  a  tunnel  was  started  to  obtain  oO  feet  of  backs 
under  the  croppings.  The  tunnel  is  85  feet  long  and  cuts  30 
feet  of  gray  carbonate  ore.  Tlie  inclosing  rock  is  a  diabase, 
spotted  with  coarse  crystals  of  feldspar.  On  the  No  Wonder 
claim  at  the  apex  of  the  hill  above  the  Orient  tunnel  is  a  vein 
of  green  carbonate  ore  8  feet  wide.  There  is  an  open  cut  20 
feet  long  and  opening  on  the  vein.  There  are  about  100  tons 
of  ore  on  the  dump.  In  this  ore  can  be  seen  some  copper 
glance. 

On  the  south  hillside  is  the  Palisades  tunnel,  which  was 
driven  to  cut  a  ledge  which  crops  12  feet  in  width  above  it. 
This  tunnel  has  a  length  of  107  feet,  but  has  not  reached  the 
ledge  aimed  at,  although  it  has  cut  several  small  veins.  On 
the  Iowa  claim  there  are  bold  croppings  carrying  some  copper 
and  said  to  be  very  good  in  gold  values. 

The  Ilussleman  &  Shaw  group  is  owned  by  ^Messrs.  Ilussle- 
man,  Shaw,  ]\IcIntosh,  and  Williams,  and  consists  of  thirty- 
one  mining  claims. 

The  ]\Iammoth  claim  is  owuchI  ])\"  ^Messrs.  Ilussleman  & 
Shaw,  and  comprises  twenty-nine  mining  locations. 

Broadly,  it  may  be  stated,  that  iron  predominates  in  both 
the  ^Moonlight  district  and  the  Genesee  district  mineral  deposits. 
Accompanying  this  pervading  iron  are  copper,  gold,  and  silver. 

In  section  28.  township  26  north,  range  8  east,  unsurveyed 
land,  two  and  a  half  miles  south  of  ^Meadow  View,  on  the  south 
face  of  the  mountain  facing  the  North  Fork  of  Feather  River, 
there  occurs  a  deposit  of  sulphide  carrying  some  copper  of 
unknown  value  and  extent.  Two  tunnels  have  been  started, 
one  above  the  other.  Tlie  upper  tunnel  does  not  reach  the 
deposit  or  vein,  and  discloses  nothing.  The  lower  one  reaches 
the  sulphide  ore.  A  shaft  higher  up  on  the  hill  was  sunk 
years  ago. 

Still  farther  south,  just  below  the  Baml)oo  Bridge,  is  a 
formation,  copper  stained,  Avliich  may  prove  to  be  the  outcrop 
of  a  deposit  of  iron  sulphides  carrying  copper. 


SIERRA  COUNTY  DEPOSITS — NEVADA  COUNTY.  1SJ> 

A  few  minor  copper  deposits  liave  been  noted  in  tlie  north- 
western part  of  tlie  eonnty,  and  there  are  a  few  other  localities 
where  eoppcr-xstained  roeUs  are  known  to  exist,  as  near  Mohawk, 
and  in  seetion  Ki.  township  23  north,  ranire  11  east,  hut  none 
of  these  occurrences  have  a.ssumed  importance. 

SIERRA  COUNTY  DEPOSITS. 

Ill  the  Poker  Flat  district,  in  townsliip  I'l  noith.  i-ange  10 
ea.st,  John  H.  Lassiad  owns  a  claim  showinj^  a  copper  deposit 
about  (id  feet  wide,  carryin«j:  pyrites,  o.xides.  and  carbonate  of 
copper. 

Bassett's  Pride  Claim. — About  five  miles  east  of  Sierra  City. 
Some  native  copper  siiows  in  the  deposit,  in  which  a  tunnel 
has  been  driven.  This  mine  is  in  section  ]'2.  township  20 
noi'th.  rauire  12  east,  and  is  owneil  l)y  Albert  C'luirch  et  al. 

Near  Sierra  City,  in  section  19.  township  20  north,  ranjire  12 
ea.st,  east  of  Whitney  Camp  and  northwe.st  of  the  Buttes  Rock, 
there  is  a  copper  mine  owned  by  George  Zuvei".  There  is  a 
shaft  40  feet  deep  from  which  copper  sulphides  have  been 
extracted  and  shipped. 

The  Antelope  Xeck  mines,  in  section  27.  township  21  north, 
range  15  east,  show  a  wide  vein  of  copper  sulphide.  ]\Ir. 
Beamer  is  the  owner. 

In  ]\Iohawk  Valley  near  the  l>ulli(tn  ciaiin  is  a  jirospect 
showing  veins  15  feet  in  width  carrying  oxide,  sulpliide.  and 
carbonate  ores  of  copper.  The  owners  are  J.  11.  Ilapgood  and 
J.  J.  Miller. 


NEVADA  COUNTY. 

Nevada,  the  l)anner  ^old-producing  county  of  the  State,  with 
a  record  of  about  $215,000,000  in  total  output  of  this  precious 
metal,  presents  some  noteworthy  copper  deposits  among  the 
various  minor  features  of  its  mineral  wealth.  This  county, 
which  still  leads  in  gold  production,  is  so  prominently  identi- 
fied with  the  history  of  gold  mining  in  California  that  it  is 
more  familiar  to  the  mining  world  than  ;m>-  of  its  sister  mining 
counties.      Quartz    mining    in    California    began    in    Nevada 


190  THE  COPPER  RESOURCES  OF  CALIFORNIA, 

County  in  1850  and  here  Avas  the  origin  of  hydraulic  and  drift 
mining.  The  copper  mine  at  Spenceville,  which  has  been  a 
snuill  producer  through  many  years,  gives  the  county  a  some- 
what i)roiiiin('iit  identification  with  the  story  of  the  copper 
industry  in  tlie  State. 

This  county  comprises  a  narrow  strip  of  mountain  and  foot- 
hill reaching  across  the  Sierras  75  miles  to  the  edge  of  the 
Sacramento  Valley,  where  the  altitude  is  hut  aliout  400  feet. 
Its  central  and  eastern  parts  are  characteristically  Sierran. 
The  higher  lakes  and  the  Bear  and  Vulia  i-ivers,  between  which 
the  couutx'  mainly  lies,  afford,  in  connection  with  many  tribu- 
tary streams  and  with  great  systems  of  canals  and  ditches 
aggregating  hundreds  of  miles,  a  copious  and  well-distributed 
water-supply.  Electric  power  is  also  extensively  generated 
and  distributed.  The  Central  Pacific  Railroad  runs  along  its 
southern  boundary  and  a  branch  line  runs  to  Grass  Valley  and 
Nevada  City,  affording  convenient  transportation  to  a  rich 
and  well-populated  mining  and  horticultural  region  that  enjoys 
a  splendid  climate. 

The  county's  mineral  resources  are  chiefly  near  its  lower 
western  end.  Here,  aliout  15  miles  from  its  western  boundary, 
are  the  renuirivable  and  famous  gold  quartz  districts  of  Grass 
Valley  and  Nevada  City.  Through  this  region  and  extending 
to  the  central  part  are  displayed  the  ancient  river  channels 
which  have  afforded  such  extensive  hydraulic  and  drift  mining 
operations,  and  over  the  same  area  are  distrilmted  the  minor 
quartz  mines  of  the  county,  which  is  traversed  by  throe  niain 
auriferous  l)elts.  A  little  west  of  the  Grass  Valley  gold  belt 
an  ii'on  belt  crosses  the  county,  and  west  of  this  comes  the 
copper  belt.  From  Sierra  County  it  swings  southwesterly 
along  the  northwestern  boundary  of  the  county  for  perhaps 
25  miles,  and  then  turns  southward  with  the  direct  western 
boundary  line,  which  it  parallels  at  a  distance  of  from  two  to 
four  miles  along  an  'eighteen-mile  course  into  Placer  County. 
Along  the  entire  course  of  the  belt  copper  indications  occur  at 
intervals,  but  the  chief  known  deposits  are  at  two  points — at 
Spenceville  in  the  southwestern  corner  of  the  county,  and  about 
^lineral  Hill,  three  miles  to  the  north,  where  various  properties 
exhibiting  strong  veins  are  being  actively  prospected,  and  from 
where   shipments   of   ore   have   been    mad(>    at    various   times. 


NEVADA   COl'NTY — COPPKR    MINKS   AND    CLAIMS.  1!)1 

TluTi'  iii'c  here  iii;ni\  slroiii:  (■()()p('r-l)('ariiiir  veins.  ;iii(l  the 
soniewli.-it  cxlt'iisive  develoiHiu'iits  that  have  been  made  i^ive 
jH-oniise  of  |ii-ulitahh'  and  lnn<r-e()ntiniied  copper  niinintr  here, 
nnth'T  faviir-alili'  niarkd  run<lit  inns.  'I'lic  mine  at  Spfnceville 
has  i)r()dneed  neaily  a  niillinn  dollai-s"  worth  of  copper,  iron 
l)yritcs.  and  mineral  painl.  and  from  above  a  depth  of  loO  feet. 

An  east  and  west  copper  hrit  in  this  county  is  located  in  the 
footliills.  Pine  Jlill  and  French  Corral  seem  from  develop- 
ment to  hi-  (in  the  east  belt,  wliilc  Speneeville  and  .Mineral  Hill 
are  on  the  west  belt.  Along  tlie  line  of  strikes  on  these  l)elts 
are  a  nnniber  of  croppings.  showing  copper,  some  of  wliich 
may  prove  to  be  worth  develoi)in,<r. 

Anotiier  copper  l)elt  shows  at  .Meadow  Lake  and  Cisco. 
Some  good  ore  has  lieeii  Ion  in  I  lici-e.  'i'liis  is  the  west  belt  in 
the  Sieri-a  .Nevada.  A  belt  \n  i  he  ea.st  of  the  Sici-i'a  Nevada 
is  reported  neai-  tlic  east  line  of  California.  Some  very  good 
float  has  been  found,  l)ut  as  yet  no  discoveries  of  any  great 
importance  have  bem  made. 

Speneeville  Copper  Mine.— This  (.Id  property  has  expe- 
rienced a  longer  period  of  operations  than  any  other  copper 
mine  in  the  State,  having  been  worked  almost  continuously 
since  LsT.").  AltliouLili  its  operations  have  never  been  on  a 
very  large  .scale,  both  tlie  mine  and  its  history  have  some 
features  of  special  interest.  The  mine  has  produced  quite  a 
large  amount  of  cojiper.  and  it  was  the  first  mine  in  the  State 
M-hose  |>roduct  of  |.yi-ites  was  used  lor  llie  manul'acture  of  both 
mineral  paint  and  sidplnii'ic  acid.  It  has  been  the  scene  of  a 
nund)er  of  metallnrgical  experiments.  It  is  located  in  the  town 
of  S|)eiU'eville.  in  the  southwestern  corner  of  the  count  w  at  an 
altitude  of  4r.()  fe(*t,  and  is  now  owned  and  operated  by  the 
Spence  Minei-al  Company  of  San  Pranci.sco.  The  ore  occurs 
in  a  series  of  wid(>  iri-euulai-  fissures  near  the  contact  of  two 
large  areas  of  country  rock  (diorite  and  granodiorite).  the 
fissures  being  filled  with  sulphide  ores  carrying  copper,  gold, 
and  silver.  Mining  has  been  confined  almost  entirely  to  that 
ore.  wliich  occurred  in  the  main  foot  wall  fissui-e  in  the  form 
of  chalcopyrite  and  in.n  pyrite.  Iteinu  a  continuous  vein  i'.dO 
feet  long,  and  1.')  to  55  feet  wide.  This  vein  yielded  I.IO.OOO 
tons  of  ore.  the  copper  content  varying  from  2  to  20  per  cent, 
the  greater  part  averagin-'  ab(.nt   5  per  cent.     V,y  the  crude 


192 


THE  COPPER  RESOURCES  OF  CALIFORNIA. 


method  of  roasting  and  leaching:  only  about  4  per  cent  of  this 
ore.  or  6000  tons,  was  recovered  as  eoppei".  the  jjold  and  silver, 
which  averag:ed  from  $3.50  to  $4.50  per  ton.  beint;  lost.  Parallel 
and  cross  fissures  on  the  hanjring-  wall  side  of  this  main  ledge 
are  filled  with  strongly  mineralized  schi.sts  and  altered  diabase, 
too  low  in  suli)hur  to  be  burned  and  requiring  a  different 
method  of  treatment,  ])ut  indicating  a  wide  area  of  mineraliza- 
tion having  possibilities  in  depth. 

The  San  Francisco  Copper  Conijiany  pursued  active  opera- 
tions for  thirteen  years  succeeding  1875.  The  mine  was  opened 
by  shafts  and  drifts  to  about  150  feet  in  depth,  and  then,  after 
the  works  had  caved  in.  mining  was  pursued  in  an  open  cut 
which  became  300  feet  long.  70  feet  wide,  and  75  feet  deep. 


Ideol       Cross     Section    oj     Sf>eoceviI!e     formation 

Most  of  the^  ore  taken  from  the  mine,  approximately  150.000 
tons,  carrying  an  average  of  5  per  cent  of  copper,  Avas  extracted 
by  this  company  prior  to  cessation  of  operations  in  1888,  and 
the  sale  of  the  property  in  1890.  owing  to  the  fall  in  tlie  i)rice 
of  copper.  This  company  made  some  costly  and  unsuccessful 
smelting  experiments,  and  produced  some  matte  and  ingot 
copper.  ]\Iost  of  the  output,  liowever.  was  cement  copper,  pro- 
duced by  heap  roasting  and  leaching,  this  company  being 
among  the  first  in  this  country  to  introduce  and  successfully 
operate  b\-  tliis  method.  During  the  year  1882  the  company 
mined  over  16,000  tons  of  ore  averaging  4  per  cent  in  copper, 
and  966,061  pounds  of  cement  averaging  83  per  cent  in  copper, 
which  was  shipped  to  Boston.  There  was  roasted  12.300  tons 
of  ore,  yielding  a  net  profit  of  $2  per  ton  at  current  prices. 
During  th(^  year  1882  the  cost  of  production  was  9.4  cents 


NEVADA    COUNTY — COI'I'KK    MINKS    AND   CLAIMS. 


1!):^ 


per  poiiiid  of  Hue  copper.  The  water  from  tlie  mine  \vorkiii^'.s 
was  also  run  throw jrh  prpeii)itatin>r  sluices.  The  price  of 
copper  cement  fell  in  1887,  and  operations  cea.sed. 

In  1890  the  Imperial  Paint  and  Copper  Company  acquired 
the  property  for  the  purpose  of  utilizing  the  old  dumps  of 
roasted  ore.  They  erected  a  paint  mill  and  calcining  furnace 
and  manufactured  red  metallic  paint  from  the  iron  o.xide, 
whidi  constitutes  approximately  40  per  cent  of  these  dum|)s. 
They  also  leached  the  dimiiK  nnd  utilized  the  mine  waters  in 


I'LA.XT    OK    THE    SPENCE    MINERAL    COMPANY,     SPENCEVILLE. 

making  cement  copper.  The  company  did  no  mining.  The 
paint  manufactured  was  of  exceptional  ([uality,  and  had  a 
ready  sale  at  the  market  price  of  standard  paints. 

In  18{)7.  the  Sj)ence  Mineral  Company  ac(|uired  the  propei'ty 
and  introd\iced  into  California  a  new  method  of  manufacturing 
sulphuric  acid  by  suV)stituting  pyrites  as  a  source  of  sulphur 
for  tlic  crude  sulphur  imported  from  Japan.  This  |)roved 
thoroughly  succes^sful  and  has  revolutionized  tlie  methods  of 
aeid-making  on  this  coa.st.  The  mine  was  unwatered  and 
reopened  and  large  bodies  of  low-grade  pyrites  left  in  the  old 
l:^— BuL.  r)0 


194  THE  COPPER  RESOURCES  OF  CALIFORNIA. 

works  were  shipped  to  manufacturers  of  acid  on  the  bay  of 
8au  Francisco  at  a  good  profit,  the  cinders  being:  returnable  to 
the  company.  These  ores  proved  to  be  well  adapted  to  this 
purpose,  owing-  to  the  absence  of  arsenic  and  other  injurious 
elements,  and  to  their  free-burning  quality,  yielding  up  their 
45  to  50  per' cent  of  sulphur  without  the  least  tendency  to 
clinker,  and  retaining  the  smallest  percentage  of  sulpluir  in 
their  cinders.  The  copper  contained  in  these  cinders,  amount- 
ing to  from  3  to  3iA  per  cent,  together  with  the  gold  and  silver, 
and  the  iron  which  has  a  value  as  a  flux,  netted  the  company 
from  $2  to  $3  per  ton  when  subsequently  sold  to  smelters.  A 
successful  leacliing  plant  has  been  constructed  ])y  the  company 
on  the  bay  of  San  Francisco,  where  its  cinders  are  leached  and 
cement  copper  manufactured. 

At  the  present  writing  the  company  has  under  way  tiie 
thorough  development  and  exploitation  of  its  mine  l)el()\v  the 
150-foot  level,  and  throughout  its  mineralized  area  above 
described,  and  lias  under  consideration  the  future  treatment 
of  its  ores  by  more  modern  and  efficient  methods.  Charles  W. 
Howard,  Spenceville,  is  general  manager  and  superintendent. 

Between  Spenceville  and  the  Placer  County  line  to  the  south 
there  are  several  prospect  holes  sunk  on  the  mineral  belt. 
showing  the  same  character  of  copper  mineralization  as  at 
Spenceville.  On  the  Nickerson  ranch,  in  section  29,  township 
14  north,  range  8  east,  by  Wolf  Creek,  there  are  exposed  two 
large  ledges  carrying  almost  pure  pyrites  and  some  gold. 
Tests  of  ore  from  dumps  show  a  copper  content  of  4  jier  cent. 
There  is  a  crosscut  tunnel  200  feet  in  length,  whicli  taps  the 
ledge.  Croppings  are  visible  for  about  800  feet  along  the 
ledge.  Very  little  development,  however,  has  been  done.  The 
owner  is  J.  R.  Nickerson,  residing  on  the  proj^erty. 

^lany  of  the  })rospect  holes  before  mentioned  were  made  in 
early  days,  since  which  time  the  lands  have  been  patented  and 
prospecting  stopped.  This  is  true  also  of  the  territory  lying 
north  of  Spenceville. 

At  the  Henry  IIil)ber  mine,  in  section  32,  townshij)  14 
north,  range  7  ea.st,  seven  and  a  lialf  miles  southeast  from 
Spenceville,  there  are  croppings  of  gossan  3  feet  wide  and 
over  400  feet  in  length.  The  vein  here  dips  west.  The  east 
wall  is  diorite;  the  west,  schistose  diabase.     AVhen   inspected 


NEVADA    COrXTV — COPPKH    MINKS    AND    <I,.\IMS. 


!l.) 


tlio  uwii.'r  had  ivached  copiHT  ore  in  a  vt'iii  2  fcrt  wide,  carry- 
ing  from  !)  to  41  per  cent  of  coppci-.  with  some  l^oM.  The 
Hear  River  runs  through  the  property. 

Mineral  Hill  Mines.— A])()ut  t\v«.  iiiih-s  ii..i-th  of  Spenee- 
vilh-  is  lucatt'd  the  Mineral  Hill  i^miip  ol"  iiiinrs.  which  have 
IxM'n  (piilc  actively  pt'dspccicd.  The  Mineral  Hill  .Mininu- 
and  Smelting'  Company,  of  whicli  ('.  ('.  Bitner  is  su{)erintend- 
ent,  owns  fivt?  claims  on  tlie  copper  l)elt  lying  in  section  1:3, 
township  ir»  north,  ranjre  <i  east — the  (lolden  ?]agle.  Index, 
Legion,    Mineral    Hill,    and    Piogress.      The    California    Gold 


SKETCH  MAP  OF  MINERAL  HILL  GROUP  OK  MINK.S. 

and  Copper  Company,  C.  C.  Bitner.  superintendent,  owns  six 
claims— the  Jackson.  San  Francisco.  American,  St.  Louis. 
Philadelphia,  and  Sixteen-to-One.  The  Sacramento.  .Afain 
Chance.  First  Chance,  and  Advance  Chance  are  owned  by 
C.  C.  Bitner.  The  Arkansaw  Traveler  is  owned  liy  Jackson 
&  Monasco.  The  Last  Chance,  a  patented  mine,  is  owned  by 
F.  :>[iller  and  K.  A.  K'oberts  of  Sacramento.  The  Green  Lead 
is  owned  by  the  heirs  of  Thonms  :\Iooney,  residing  in  Smarts- 
ville.  Yuba  County.  The  .Afonmonth  and  Climax  claims  are 
owned  by  J.   F.  Dempsey  of  Smartsville. 

Bitner  &  Austin  ran  a  crosscut  tunnel  through  the  Advance 
Chance.  First  Chance,  Afain  Chance,  and  Sacramento  claims 
easterly  from  the  ravine,  expectiu'.^-  to  intersect  thirteen  ledges 


196  THE  COPPER  RESOURCES  OF  CALIFORNIA. 

will)  this  tunnel,  as  that  number  outcrop  on  the  hillside.  The 
course  of  this  vein  is  east  of  north.  The  thirteen  parallel  veins 
vary  from  5  to  30  feet  in  width  on  the  outcrops.  All  of  them 
show  chalcopyrites.  A  shaft  near  the  hilltop  follows  the 
100-foot  vein  pitching  to  the  east,  which  shows  some  very 
good  red  oxide,  carbonate,  and  sulphide  ores.  The  formation 
tliat  incloses  the  mineral  is  a  hard  diabase. 

The  Last  Chance  is  opened  by  a  shaft  240  feet  deep,  with 
steam  hoisting  works.  The  vein  is  5  to  8  feet  wide,  carrying 
pyrites  and  chalcopyrites  in  considerable  quantities.  Some 
good  ore  now  lies  on  the  dump.  There  was  considerable  ore 
shipped  from  this  mine  as  long  ago  as  1876.  The  pyrite 
occurs  in  this  mine,  as  well  as  in  all  others  in  the  district,  in 
lens-shaped  bodies,  the  inclosing  formation  being  a  hard,  dark- 
blue  diabase. 

East  of  the  Last  Chance  is  a  series  of  diorite  and  quartz 
ledges,  wide  and  of  low  grade,  of  which  little  is  known.  They 
vary  from  3  to  100  feet  in  tliickness.  One  ledge  exposed  on 
the  hill,  and  owned  by  the  First  National  Bank  of  San  Fran- 
cisco, is  fully  100  feet  wide  and  is  traceable  for  over  two  miles. 
These  ledges  occur  in  succession  until  the  east  granodiorite 
wall  is  reached. 

The  Green  Lead  Avas  worked  some  years  ago,  and  appears 
to  have  a  large  deposit  of  good  ore.  It  is  in  section  12,  town- 
ship 15  north,  range  6  east,  and  is  opened  by  two  shafts  each 
about  160  feet  deep.  The  ores  are  peacock  copper  (bornite), 
chalcopyrites,  and  red  oxide,  mixed  with  cpiartz.  Formation 
same  as  Last  Chance.  Ore  has  been  shipped  to  San  Francisco 
at  various  times. 

The  Golden  Eagle  is  opened  by  a  shaft  15  feet  deep,  show- 
ing a  4-foot  vein  of  sulphide  of  copper  and  iron.  At  the  north 
end  line,  on  a  vein  west  of  and  parallel  with  the  Last  Chance 
vein,  is  a  shaft,  inclined  to  the  east.  150  feet  deep.  To  the  east 
of  these  veins  is  a  tunnel  70  feet  long,  driven  on  another  vein 
300  feet,  and  at  its  end  is  a  crosscut  to  the  west  ledge.  This 
vein  carries  the  same  apparent  variety  and  grade  of  ore, 
having  some  gold  content.  A  considerable  amount  of  carbonate 
ore  ship]KHl  from  this  mine  is  said  to  have  had  a  value  of 
$12.50  gold  per  ton  and  10  per  cent  of  copper. 

In   tile   Sixtoon-to-Onc   miii(\   a   shaft   has  been   sunk   in   a 


XKVAOA    COUNTY — COI'l'KU    MINKS    ANI>    CLAIMS.  1!)7 

2U-l:oot  vein.  At  the  time  of  iii.spe«-tiuii  it  was  80  feet  deep,  all 
in  on'.  The  ore  appears  to  he  of  the  same  L'eneral  eharaetei-  as 
in  the  other  mines  of  the  Mineral  Hill  group,  is  in  cpiart/.  and 
tliai)ase  tranLrnc  matte!-,  and  cai-ries  from  7  to  14  per  cent  of 
copper. 

In  tlif  .lai-ksdu  mine,  the  iniprovciiii-nts  consist  of  a  450-foot 
tunnel  on  the  ledire.  started  near  the  snutli  end  of  the  claim. 
A  hody  (iT  ore  wjis  ])assed  throULiii  near  llic  inoulh  ol'  the  tun- 
nel. Most  of  tills  oi-e  Itody  was  extracted  and  sliip]>ed.  It  is 
said  to  have  yielded  8  per  cent  of  copi>er  and  $10  in  yold.  The 
vein  is  from  (!  inches  to  7  feet  in  width.  There  are  croppin<,'S 
beyond  the  i)reast  of  tunnel  60  feet  wide.  There  is  also  a 
shaft  50  feet  deep,  in  ore. 

The  Arkansaw  Traveler  has  a  tunnel  12  feet  lon^  showing 
a  vein  of  ore  ;?  feet  wide.  Ore  yieldincr  5  per  cent  of  copper 
ami  $7  in  gold  has  been  shipped. 

The  Genevieve  is  owned  hy  (".  ('.  Bitner  and  F.  B.  Yei-l»y. 

The  I'i'ogress  mine  has  a  shaft  30  fei't  deep,  and  shows 
sulphide  <»re  similar  to  that  of  the  mines  of  the  district. 

The  ^NFonmouth  and  Climax  claims  have  a  tunnel  460  feet 
long  intended  to  tap  a  ledge,  and  two  shafts,  one  30  feet  and 
one  50  feet  deep,  on  different  veins  about  100  feet  ajxirt.  The 
ores  are  light-colored  sulphides,  wiiich  can-y  'A  to  4  pei-  ceut  of 
copper  and  some  gold. 

Thciv  ai'e  gossan  outcrops  in  various  |)laces  on  Mineral  Hill. 
especially  on  the  south  end  of  the  Advance  and  First  Chance 
claims.  .\il  oi-e  shoots  i)it<'h  to  the  noi'th.  All  the  veins 
passing  tliioiiL:li  the  hill  appear  to  l)elong  to  a  lode  lying  to 
the  east  of  the  Spenceville  lodes.  C.  C.  Bitner  produced  and 
marketed  cement  copper  in   issd  fnun  the  (Jolden  Eagle  ores. 

Tile  California  Gold  and  Copper  Company  have  been  driv- 
ing a  long  tunnel  to  obtain  several  hundred  feet  of  l)acks  in 
its  claims. 

The  .Mineral  Hill  Mining  and  Smelting  Company  has  also 
been  driving  a  deep  tunnel  to  obtain  500  feet  of  de])th  under 
the  best  of  its  (daims.  This  tuiuud  cut  three  very  promising 
ledges. 

The  facilities  for  working  any  group  of  the  mines  men- 
tioned are  excellent.  An  abundance  of  heavy  pine  timber 
stands  on  the  claims,  and  covers  the  adjoining  country.     The 


198  THE  COPPER  RESOURCES  OP  CALIFORNIA. 


« 


ahriiptncss  of  the  hills  makes  tunnel  mining  possible  for  many 
years  to  eomc.  AVater  for  power  could  be  obtained  from  the 
Excelsior  AVater  Company,  one  of  Avhose  ditches  passes  along 
the  top  of  the  hill. 

Ledges  of  copper-l)earing  rocks  not  greatl\'  prosj)ei'ted 
appear  in  places  along  the  belt  to  the  north  county  line  at 
Yuba  River.  From  the  Green  Lead  going  north,  the  belt 
appears  to  swing  to  the  east  and  passes  through  the  east  half 
of  section  L  township  15  north,  range  6  east,  and  section  6. 
township  15  north,  range  7  cast.  I)y  the  old  Hartley  house. 
It  thence  makes  to  the. north  thi-ough  section  31.  township  16 
north,  range  7  east,  and  then  through  sections  '.i\  and  19,  town- 
ship 16  noi'tli.  range  7  east,  to  the  Yuba  River.  There  are  no 
extensive  workings  on  this  section  of  the  belt;  croppings  and 
shallow  holes  indicate  the  course  of  the  belt,  which  follows 
closely  the  granodiorite  formation. 

On  the  road  from  Smartsville  to  Grass  Valley  copper  crop- 
pings may  he  seen  on  the  Finie  ranch  and  on  the  Campbell 
rancli.  Croppings  occur  also  one  mile  south  of  tlic  J.  Fenni- 
more  i-jindi.  Here  the  vein  matter  is  about  40  feet  wide,  but 
not  prospected. 

Toward  the  south  and  southeast  of  Alineral  Hill,  the  copper 
belt  passes  through  the  Bingers  ranch.  a])out  four  miles  south 
of  Aliiicral  Hill,  where  there  are  strong  croppings.  Springs 
on  this  property  are  very  strongly  impregnated  with  copper. 

Near  French  Corral,  in  township  17  north,  range  7  east, 
tlicrc  is  a  large  deposit  of  pyrites  carrying  chalcopyrites. 
Daniel  Roberts,  owner. 

Xcai-  Sweetland.  in  townsliip  17  north,  range  8  east,  is  an 
unexplored  copper  vein. 

In  Washington  Township,  section  8.  township  18  north, 
range  11  east,  is  a  vein  6  feet  wide,  cari-ying  copper,  but  little 
developed.     E.  T.  "Wortliley.  ownei". 

Xear  North  Bloomtield.  in  section  (i.  township  17  north, 
range  10  east,  is  a  claim  called  the  Edison  Copper  Aline; 
Wm.  Alobley.  owner.  It  is  opened  by  a  shaft  45  feet  deep, 
following  the  vein.  The  hanging  wall  is  a  schistose  diabase; 
the  foot  wall  is  serpentine.  The  vein  averages  about  13  feet  in 
width  in  the  bottom  of  the  shaft,  where  some  drifting  has  been 
(lone.     It  is  reported  to  carry  3i/>  per  cent  of  copper  and  $3.25 


NKV.VDA    COUNTY — COPI'EK    MIXKS    AXO    CLAIMS.  I*)?) 

ill  LTold.  TlifiT  is  also  a  tiiiiinl  ilfivni  240  I'lH't.  AX  the  Tace 
of  the  tiimu'l  drifts  have  lii't-n  iim  mi  t  lie  v(Mn  25  and  15  feet 
in  length,  rcspectivclx . 

Bitner  Mine. —  In  section  i:}.  township  15  norlh,  ranti:e  (> 
east.  .Mount  DiaWlo  meridian,  thi-ee  miles  north  of  Sjxnieeville ; 
ownei".  (".  ( '.  liitner.  Speneeville.  ("alifoiMiia.  .\i'ea.  lliO  aeres 
(locations ).  Elevation,  t)2()  feet.  Development.  .'5  adits  1250. 
5(1.  and  450  feet,  respectively.  There  are  4  shafts  of  150,  30, 
20.  and  50  feet,  all  veilic;il.  Kail\va.\-.  seventeen  miles  to 
Wlicatland,    on    Sonthern    Pacific    Railroad. 

Big  Bend,  l-'i-tiicii  Corral:  located  in  sections  25  anil  '.Hi, 
townsliip  17  iKUili.  ran.nc  7  east.  Mount  Dialilo  meridian; 
owner.  A.  F.  .McPherson,  French  Corral.  Area,  60  aeres  (loca- 
tions). Development.  18-foot  adit.  Formation,  schist.  Crossan, 
in  Ill-stained  schist.  120  feet  wide  in  i)laees  on  surface.  Valnes, 
copper.  <rold.  and  silver.  Kailuay.  fifteen  mil&s  southeast  to 
Grass  N'alley ;  Nevada  Count_\"  Railroad.  (Jood  mountain 
wagon  road. 

Oro  Grande  Group. — Located  in  section  27.  township  18 
north,  range  13  east,  .Mount  Dialilo  meridian.  .1.  \\  Clark  and 
!•'.  .1.  ( 'ook.  Cisco,  owners.  p]levation,  7-350  feet.  Area.  80 
acres  (locations);  strike,  north  85  degrees  west;  dip  of  vein, 
72  degrees  15  minutes  south.  AValls,  porphyry;  vein,  8  to  50 
feet.  Cossan,  iron-stained  porjjliyry.  Ore,  chalcopyrite,  bor- 
nite,  malachite,  pyrite,  quartz.  Values  reported,  copper  5  per 
cent,  gold  -$7,  silver  3  ounces.  Development,  Xo.  1  vertical 
shaft  32  feet;  Xo.  2.  3-coniparfment  vertical  shaft  125  feet, 
partly  filled;  Xo.  3,  2-compartment  shaft,  vertical,  105  feet, 
caved  full ;  200  feet  of  open  cuts ;  30  feet  adit  on  vein ;  200 
parallel  veins  showing  in  places;  croppings  for  4500  feet.  One 
man  working  on  assessment.  F(iuipment.  1  4-stamp  mill. 
Was  worked  as  free  milling  forty-five  years  ago.  Sulphide 
zone  reached.  Oxides  are  from  1  to  10  feet  in  depth.  Cisco, 
nine  miles  south,  is  the  nearest  railway  point.  Fair  mountain 
wagon  road. 

Pine  Hill  Mining  Company. — fjocated  in  section  12,  town- 
sliip 12  north,  range  7  east,  .Mount  Dialilo  meridian;  Pine  Hill 
.Miiiini:  Company.  Wolf  post  ol^ce.  owners;  J.  A.  Rohles.  super- 


200  THE  COPPER  RESOURCES  OF  CALIFOR>nA. 

intendent.  Area,  160  acres;  elevation,  1750  feet;  dip  of  vein. 
62  degrees  east ;  strike,  north  8  degrees  west  of  formation  -. 
shear  zone  nortli  HO  degrees  west.  Geology,  quartz  porphyry, 
rhyoiite.  Foot  wall,  diabase;  hanging  wall,  serpentine.  Vein 
matter  27  feet  wide.  Development,  main  shaft,  vertical,  two- 
compartment.  200  feet;  other  shafts  and  inclines.  200  feet; 
drifts.  1100  feet.  Equipment,  10-stamp  mill.  1000-pound 
stamps;  3  vanuers.  amalgamation  plates;  full  equipment  for 
free  milling  ore ;  blacksmith  shop ;  2  drill  compressors ;  8-horse- 
power  geared  hoist;  boarding  house;  bunk  house;  mill  build- 
ing, assay  office;  office  building;  2  pumps.  Power,  steam. 
85-horsepower.  Ore,  gold,  copper,  silver,  chalcopyrite,  mala- 
chite, red  oxide,  bornite,  native  copper,  in  clay ;  quartz.  ])yrite, 
iron  oxide.  Fine  white  kaolin.  150  feet  wide;  some  barite. 
Gossan,  iron-stained  porphyry  and  rhyoiite;  limonite.  hema- 
tite, lias  been  worked  as  a  gold  mine.  Water  from  adit 
running  through  sluices  precipitates  some  cement,  copper  and 
iron.     Nearest  railway.  Auburn. 

Red  Ledge  Mine. — Located  in  section  36,  township  17  north, 
range  7  east,  Mount  Diablo  meridian ;  owners.  A.  F.  ^IcPher- 
son  et  al..  French  Corral.  Area.  360  acres  (locations)  ;  ele- 
vation. 1220  feet;  dip  of  vein,  60  degrees  west;  strike,  north 
45  degrees  west;  walls,  schist.  Development.  6  adits;  No.  3. 
110  feet  in  length.  7  feet  of  ore;  No.  2.  167  feet  in  length.  27 
feet  of  ore:  Xo.  6.  330  feet  in  length.  16  feet  of  ore;  Xos.  1 
and  4  caved,  old  work;  Nos.  2  and  3.  about  100  feet  above 
No.  6.  Ore.  gold,  silver,  copper,  malachite,  chalcopyrite.  iron 
pyrites,  quartz.  Gossan,  iron-stained  schist,  about  500  feet 
wide  in  places.  Equipment,  10-stamp  mill.  1000-pound  stamps  ; 
water  power,  impulse  wheel ;  cyanide  plant.  AVorked  as  gold 
mine  for  some  years.  Kailway.  fifteen  miles  southeast  to  Grass 
Valley. 

Red  Mountain  Group,  Cisco;  located  in  section  17.  township 
17  nurlh.  range  13  east.  Mount  Dia])Io  meridian;  owners.  Red 
^Mountain  Copper-Gold  ^Mining  Conqiany.  J.  A.  Wilcox, 
manager.  Cisco.  California.  Area,  640  acres  (locations)  ; 
walls,  schist  and  slate.  Ore,  copper,  gold,  and  silver.  Values 
reported,  gold  $15.50.  copper  4i/4  per  cent,  silver  1  ounce; 
average  from  car  lots.  Development,  adit  30  feet  in  length. 
Railwav,  three  and  a  half  miles  to  Cisco. 


NEVADA    COUNTY COPPKK    MINKS    AND    CLAIMS.  2(^! 

Sweet  Ranch. — l.ocalt'd  in  st'ction  \'-i.  township  14  north, 
i-iiiiL;!'  7  i-ast.  .M<niiit  Dialtio  iiicridijiii :  owner.  John  Sweet. 
Wolf  post  otHiee.  Eh'vatioii.  1S(M)  feet.  Area.  210  aeres. 
Strike  of  vein,  nortli;  dip.  east.  (Jossan.  ii-on-stained  rhyolite 
and  jKirpliN  r.\ .  hematite,  linionite.  Development,  two  or  three 
10-foot  hoh's.  Willies  reported,  ei-oppinj^s,  >f:l..")(i  to  .^12  jioUl 
and  silver.  A  part  of  Tine  Hill.  Ureccia  shown  south  side 
of  hill,  some  barite  on  top.  Nearest  railway  point,  fourteen 
miles  .south  to  Auburn. 

Tola  Group,  (  iseo ;  located  in  section  27,  township  18  north, 
ran,«;e  I'i  I'ast.  .\biiitit  Dialilo  meridian;  owners,  E.  E.  AVyman 
et  al.  Area,  (id  acres.  Dif)  of  vein.  4!)  degrees  south;  strike, 
82  deforces  west;  vein,  4  feet;  walls,  porphyry;  elevation,  7150 
feet,  (rossaji.  iron-stained  porpliyi-v.  Ore,  chalcopyrite,  pyrite, 
mahicliite.  Values  reported.  1.")  to  IS  tons  shipped  in  1906 
averajred  $28  i)er  ton  in  Liold.  silver,  and  copper.  Development, 
open  cut.  50  feet:  12-foot  adit;  3  to  10-foot  holes.  Equipment, 
bunk  and  l)oarding  house  and  barn.  Road.  ei<:ht  miles  to 
Cisco,  on  Southern  Pacific,  over  a  fair  mountain  road. 

Turner  Group,  Cisco  post  office ;  located  in  section  16,  town- 
sliip  18  north,  range  13  east,  Motuit  Diablo  meridian;  owner. 
"\V.  .M.  Tiirner.  Webber  Lake.  Sierra  County.  Area,  120  acres 
(locations)  :  strike  of  vein,  northwest:  dip,  south;  vein  16  feet 
at  shaft.  Oos.san.  iron-stained  porphyry;  walls,  porphyry. 
Development,  18-foot  shaft ;  some  cuts.  Ore.  chalcopyrite, 
pyrite;  values  reported,  gold  $9,  silver  5  ounces,  copper  4  per 
cent.  Good  wagon  road  to  Trnckee.  thirty-three  miles  south- 
east ;  ten  miles  fair  road  to  Cisco. 

Wetteran  Ranch,  Spenceville  post  office;  located  in  section 
34,  township  15  north,  range  7  east.  Mount  Diablo  meridian; 
owner,  G.  G.  Wetteran.  (irass  Vjilley.  K.  F.  D.,  Box  62.  Area. 
540  acres.  Elevation,  900  feet.  Railway,  ten  miles  northeast. 
to  Grass  Valley.  Development,  20-foot  vertical  shaft,  open 
cuts,  trenches.  Strike  of  vein,  north.  Gos.san.  linionite,  iron- 
staiiied  breccia  of  rhyolite.  Ore,  malachite,  pyrite.  Good 
wagon  road  to  Grass  Valley. 

Boss  Mine,  North  San  Juan;  located  in  section  12.  township 
17  north,  range  7  east,  Mount  Diablo  meridian  ;  Louis  Sehloss 
&  Co.,  San  Francisco,  owners;  J.  II.  Collier,  manager.    Rail- 


202  THE  COPPEK  RESOLKCES  OF  CALIFOKXIA. 

way.  fourteen  miles  southeast  to  (Jrass  Valley.  Nevada  County 
Railroad.  p]levation,  2100  feet.  Area,  not  'riven.  Develop- 
ment. 250-foot  2-compartment  vertical  shaft.  34-foot  crosscut 
at  150-foot  level  to  vein.  Power,  electric.  E(|uipment.  50- 
horsepower  electric  motor;  1  8-drill  comjire«sor;  1  2-cylinder 
geared  hoist,  air  driven;  shaft  house,  power  iiouse.  hlacksmitli 
shop.  6-post  head  frame.  Strike  of  vein,  north ;  dip,  80  degrees 
east ;  walls,  schist ;  ore  consists  of  copper,  gold,  silver,  iron 
pyrites,  iron  oxide,  clialcopyrite.  Oxidized  /one  about  100  feet 
deep,  (iossaii.  iron-stained  schist  1000  feet  wide  in  places. 
Vein  2  feet  wide  at  100-foot  level.  12  feet  wid.'  at  150-foot 
level.     Worked  for  gold  some  years  ago. 

Carlisle,  Cisco  post  office;  located  in  section  4,  township  17 
north,  range  13  east,  Mount  Diablo  meridian.  Area.  260  acres 
(patent).  Elevation.  5600  feet.  Strike  of  vein,  southeast  and 
northwest;  dip.  not  given;  width  of  vein.  2  feet  to  10  feet; 
walls,  porphyry.  Gossan,  iron-stained  porphyry.  Develop- 
ment, adit  No.  i,  500  feet,  and  No.  2,  400  feet ;  others  400  feet ; 
total.  1300  feet.  Ore  values  reported,  copper  Ti/o  per  cent, 
gold  $6.  silver  4  ounces.  Silica,  iron,  and  copper  sulphide. 
Good  mountain  wagon  road,  nine  miles  southeast  to  Cisco; 
seven  miles  southwest  trail  to  Crystal  Lake,  both  on  Southern 
Pacific  Railroad.  Ecpiipment.  aerial  tramway  2600  feet; 
turbine  wheel  200-horsepower ;  sawmill.  l)lacksmith  shop, 
boarding  house  and  bunk  house ;  power,  water  power. 

Fairview  Mine. — Located  in  section  2.  township  IT  north, 
range  10  east,  Mount  Diablo  meridian:  owners.  Fairview  Min- 
ing Company;  C.  ]\1.  Wilson,  superintendent.  Relief  Hill  post 
office,  Nevada  County.  Area.  160  acres  (8  claims,  locations). 
Elevation.  4325  feet.  Hanging  wall,  schist:  foot  wall,  serpen- 
tine. \'eiii.  12  feet  in  places;  dip  of  vein.  65  degrees  30 
minutes  west;  strike,  north  17  degrees  west.  Go.ssan.  iron- 
stained  schist.  Nevada  City  nearest  railway  point,  twenty-one 
miles  southwest.  Development.  375-foot  adit  in  on  vein;  about 
170  feet  backs.  Ore.  chalcopyrite.  red  oxide  of  copper,  iron 
pyrite.  gohl,  (juartz.  iron  oxide.  P^cpiipment.  car.  track,  and 
blacksmith  shop.  Values  reported,  copper  1.1  per  cent,  gold 
$4.  silver  16  cents.  Open  cut  on  hill  was  Avorked  for  gold 
by  sluicing  some  years  ago. 


XKVADA    COl'NTV — COIM'KR    .MINES    AND    CLAIMS.  Ii03 

Gautier  Ranch. — FjocattMl  in  soction  28,  township  1-i  liorth, 
i-aiiirt'  ^  cast.  .Mount  Diablo  meridian;  owner.  Willi.nn  Gautier, 
.\uliurn.  California.  Kh'vation.  14r)()  feet.  Strike  of  vein, 
north  4  deirrees  west:  dip.  80  de^ree-s  east;  strike,  hreeeia.  1 
de«rree  northwest;  dip.  nortlieast.  Foot  wall,  schist;  han^'inw 
wall,  schist.  Area.  320  acres.  Vein,  (luartz  porphyry,  with 
.some  rhyolite  showiutr.  Gossan,  iron-stained  porphyry  and 
rhyolite.  with  .some  limonite  30  feet  wide  in  places.  Ore, 
malachite,  chalcopyrite,  pyrite,  quartz.  Development,  old  shaft, 
vertical.  80  feet   deep. 

California  Mine. — Owners.  California  Gold  and  Copper 
Company,  Spenceville.  Strike  of  vein,  north  48  de«;rees  west. 
Area,  6")  acres.  Elevation,  560  feet.  Dip,  60  dejjrees  north- 
east. Walls,  diorite.  Vein.  4  feet  wide  Development, 
main  adit.  1000  feet.  Drifts.  600  feet  on  vein.  Located 
in  section  12.  township  1")  north,  range  6  east,  ]\Ioiint 
Diablo  meridinn.  three  miles  iiorlli  of  Spenceville.  Railway, 
seventeen  miles  to  AVhentland.  on  Southern  Pacific  Railroad. 
Good  wagon  road.  H<|uii)ment.  blacksmith  .shop,  office. 
Gossan,  limonite  and  iron-st;iined  diorite.  Fifteen  men  work- 
ing. Backs,  224  feet  above  adit  level.  Values  reported,  copper 
6  per  cent,  .some  gold  and  silver.  Ore,  malachite,  bornite, 
chalcopyrite,  iron  pyrite,  quartz. 

Iron  Mountain  Mine,  Feridey  post  office;  located  in  section 
3.  townsliip  1.")  north,  range  7  east,  .Mount  Diablo  meridian; 
ownei-.  Mammoth  .Mining  Company.  Kciinet.  California.  .Vrea, 
120  acres.  Klevaliou.  1775  feet.  Strike  of  vein,  north  and 
south;  dip.  7(1  degrees  east;  vein.  12  feet  wide.  Walls,  rhyo- 
lite. Gossan,  limonite  ;ind  iron-stained  rhyolite  cropping  for 
half  a  mile.  300  feet  wide  in  places.  Development.  250-foot 
vertical  shaft,  2-compartment ;  2300  feet  of  drifts.  Ore.  gold, 
copper,  iron  oxide,  pyrite.  malachite  reported  to  ciMitain  33 
per  cent  of  sulphur  and  67  |)er  cent  of  iron.  Railway  ten 
miles  southwest  from  Grass  Valley,  the  nearest  railroad  point. 
Good  wagon  road.  Ecjuipment,  shaft  house,  blacksmith  shop, 
buid<  house,  geared  hoist.  2-cylinder  link  motion;  power,  steam, 
25-horsepower ;  1  horizontal  and  1  vertical  boiler;  pump  and 
horizontal  boiler  at  creek  punq^ing  water  for  steam  purposes. 
Values  reported,  gold,  copper,  and  silver. 


204  THE  COPPER  RESOURCES  OF  CALIFORNIA. 

Lotzen  Ranch,  Grass  Valley  post  office ;  located  in  section  2, 
township  li  north,  range  7  east.  IMonnt  Diablo  meridian; 
OM-ner.  AVilliam  Lotzen,  Grass  Valley,  California.  Area.  158 
acres.  Railroad,  ten  miles  northeast  to  Grass  Valley.  Nearest 
post  office,  Wolf,  three  miles.  Elevation.  1050  feet.  Foot  wall, 
granodiorite :  hanging  wall,  diorite.  Strike  of  vein,  north  30 
degrees  west ;  dip,  85  degrees  southwest.  Vein,  16  feet  in 
width.  Development,  60-foot  adit  crosscut;  16  feet  of  this  is 
a  mineralized  diorite,  showing  chalcopyrite.  bornite.  pyrite. 
quartz,  red  oxide  of  copper.  Appears  to  be  near  water  level. 
Gossan,  iron-stained  diorite  and  limonite.     Good  wagon  road. 

Mammoth  Gold  Copper  Mine,  North  San  Juan  post  office; 
located  in  section  12,  township  17  north,  range  7  east.  Mount 
Diablo  meridian ;  owner,  G.  W.  Broyles,  French  Corral.  Area. 
60  acres  (locations).  Development,  40-foot  adit.  Walls,  slate: 
dip  of  vein,  85  degrees  east;  strike,  north  and  south.  Values 
reported,  copper  2  per  cent,  gold  $3.  On  main  Yuba  River, 
work  near  river  level.  Railway,  fifteen  miles  southeast,  to 
Grass  Valley.  Good  wagon  road.  (Not  visited;  owners 
report. ) 

Mammoth  Group,  Cisco  post  office;  located  in  section  4. 
township  17  north,  range  13  east.  Blount  Diablo  meridian. 
Area.  80  acres  (locations).  Strike  of  vein,  northwest:  dip. 
south :  w'alls.  porphyry.  Gossan,  iron-stained  porphyry. 
Development,  shaft  285  feet  deep,  vertical ;  drifts  in  ore  75 
feet;  No.  1  adit,  75  feet;  No.  2,  200  feet.  Ore,  copper,  gold, 
and  silver.  Values  reported,  gold  '^\i),  copper  4  per  cent, 
silver  trace.  Good  mountain  wagon  road  to  Cisco.  Equip- 
7ii('iit.  iiiachiiicry  for  a  lO-stamp  mill,  not  in  place.  (Owner's 
report.) 

Grizzley  Ridge,  North  Columbia  ])ost  office;  owner.  Grizzley 
Ridge  Mining  Company.  North  Columbia  post  office.  Values, 
gold  4^40.  copper  V/^  per  cent,  silver  17  ounces.  These  values 
are  owner's  report. 


YUBA   COUNTY — PLACER   COUNTY.  205 

YUBA  COUNTY. 


To  the  west  of  Nevada  and  also  north  of  its  western  portion 
lies  the  small  vaHcy  and  foothill  county  of  Yuba,  whioh  pre- 
sents a  few  ofcurrenees  of  copper  ores.  These  are  but  a  few 
miles  from  Nevada  County's  line  of  deposits,  and  may  be 
regarded  as  lu'longintr  to  the  same  l^elt.  flanking  it  in  the 
maimer  of  so  many  occurrences  that  elsewhere  mark  the  vary- 
ing zone  described  as  the  general  foothill  belt.  The  principal 
occurrences  are  on  the  Dempsey  ranch,  five  miles  north  of 
Spenceville.  near  the  county  line,  and  on  the  Brady  ranch,  in 
the  southern  jiortion  of  the  county  west  of  Spenceville  and 
northwest  of  the  chief  occurrences  in  Placer  County. 

Dempsey  Ranch. — Here  bold  croppings  over  400  feet  wide, 
exhibiting  gossan  croppings.  present  interesting  surface  indi- 
cations of  what  may  be  a  large  copper  deposit.  Some  samples 
of  ore  have  assayed  35  per  cent  copper.  This  prospect  is  on  a 
productive  ranch  and  has  received  little  intelligent  develop- 
ment, the  latter  consisting  of  some  prospect  holes  and  a  tunnel 
100  feet  long. 

Brady  Ranch.— On  lliis  randi.  in  section  1,  township  15 
north,  range  5  east,  and  in  section  "35,  township  16  north, 
range  5  east,  croppings  occur  and  there  is  an  old  abandoned 
shaft,  the  water  from  which  is  strongly  impregnated  with 
copper.  Prospect  holes  trace  the  belt  southeast  to  Bear  River, 
through  sections  21.  22.  27.  and  2^^.  township  14  north,  range 
6  east.  On  the  Brady  ranch  is  what  is  called  the  Old  Red 
Ledge,  wherein  red  oxide  of  copper  is  visible.  This  deposit 
was  quite  extensively  exploited  in  1863. 


PLACER  COUNTY. 

Placer,  one  of  the  tier  of  rich  mining  counties  which  span 
the  Sierra  range,  lies  south  of  Nevada  County,  and  in  its 
length  of  100  miles  it  reaches  from  the  angle  in  tlie  State's 
eastern  l)()iuidary  down  into  the  Sacramento  Valley,  possessing 


206  THE  COPPER  RESOURCES  OF  CALIFORNIA. 

in  its  foothills  a  section  of  the  eo])p('r  belt.  Its  pliysieal  eliar- 
acteristics  are  those  connnon  to  its  neighbors  of  the  great  range, 
as  were  the  general  features  of  its  early  raining  period.  It 
shared  largely  in  the  prosperity  of  the  period  of  hydraulic 
mining  through  the  pussession  of  rich  and  extensive  ancient 
river  channels. 

Its  drift  mines  now  give  it  its  claim  to  preeminence  in  one 
feature  of  the  mining  industry.  In  the  Forest  Hill  Divide,  a 
great  spur  of  the  range,  reaching  westward  down  the  slope  for 
25  miles,  there  lies  deeply  buried  under  lava  cappings  the  most 
extensive  network  of  ancient  river  channels  found  along  the 
range,  and  in  this  dfvide  are  the  chief  drift  mines  of  the 
world.  This  divide  has  yielded  over  $30,000,000.  and  tlie  Inilk 
of  the  total  current  out[)iit  of  tlie  drift  mines  of  the  State  is 
yet  credited  to  Placer  County. 

A  little  to  its  south,  in  El  Dorado  County,  is  what  is  gener- 
ally taken  to  be  the  northern  end  of  the  Mother  Lode,  and  a 
little  to  its  north,  in  Nevada  Countv,  are  the  famous  Grass 
Valley  and  Nevada  City  mining  districts.  The  great  Sierra 
gold  belt  crosses  the  county,  presenting  innumerable  and 
widely  distril)uted  (piartz  veins,  and  there  are  nuniy  rich  mines, 
but  (|uartz  mining  is  yet  in  a  relatively  backward  condition. 
Granite  and  pottci'v  arc  the  chief  additional  features  of  its 
mineral  industry,  in  wliich  Placer  County  holds  a  leading 
place.  Iron,  chrome,  manganese,  marble,  limestone,  and  min- 
eral waters  arc  among  its  other  mineral  resources.  Lake 
Talioe,  at  an  elevation  of  over  (5000  feet,  lumber  forests,  and 
a  rich  horticultural  region  in  the  foothills,  are  among  other 
features  of  the  county.  The  Central  Pacitic  Railroad  trav- 
erses the  entire  length  of  the  county  along  its  northern 
border. 

At  various  places  along  an  irregular  line  across  the  western 
portion  of  the  county  the  foothill  mineral  l)c]t  displays  copper 
deposits.  A  few  have  been  prospected  and  small  amounts  of 
copper  ore  have  been  shipped.  Some  very  wide  veins  are 
dis])layed. 

Ther(>  is  an  (nist  and  west  belt  of  copper  in  this  county.  The 
west  belt  is  composed  of  that  along  or  near  granite  contact: 
Dairy  Farm,  Valley  View,  Algol,  and  Eclipse  Consolidated. 
This  belt  is  in  ])laces  two  and  a  half  to  three  miles  wide,  i.  e., 
Vallev  View  to  Algol. 


I'l.ACKK    COUNTY COI'l'KH    MINKS    AND    CLAIMS.  2tl( 

(iossan  and  copi)er  stain  show  in  a  ^'ood  many  placos  alouLi' 
this  west  belt,  between  the  known  mines,  but  is  not  continuous. 
Strike,  west  of  north  on  l)oth  belts. 

The  property  of  the  California  Mineral  Land  Company  is 
on  east  belt.  Wliil.'  the  «,'assan  and  copper  stain  can  be  traced 
for  a  ^'ood  i)art  of  the  way  across  the  country,  it  is  not  con- 
tinuous, or  not  so  well  developed  as  the  west  belt. 

The  east  belt  in  places  follows  a  brecciated  zone,  with  a 
strike  of  north  about  tiO  degrees  west,  but  on  account  of  the 
limited  develoi)ment  it  can  not  be  stated  if  it  follows  this  at 
all  times  or  not. 

Eclipse  Consolidated. — This  miuc  is  located  in  section  IT, 
townsliip  12  math,  raiit^e  8  east.  Mount  Diablo  meridian,  two 
miles  .southwest   of   Auburn;   owners.   R.   B.    Simiu-^ton,    San 
Francisco,    and    (}.    F.    Lavalee,    Auburn.      Area.    100    acres. 
Strike,  nortli:  dip.  22  de<rrees  east  at  incline  shaft.    Foot  wall, 
•granite;  hiuigin^,'  wall,  porphyry.     Elevation.  1000  feet.     Ore,  . 
chalcopyrite.  nudachite.  zinc,  iron  pyrite,  gold,  silver,  quartz, 
red  oxide  of  copper.     Some  fair  ore  on  dump.     The  width  of 
vein  could  not  be  determined,  shaft  full  of  water.    Go.ssan  100 
feet   wide   in   places,   shows  strong   for   a  quarter   of  a   mile. 
Development.  100-foot  22-degree  incline  shaft,  single  compart- 
ment;  one  280-foot   60-degree  incline  shaft,   caved   full;   one 
2(K)-foot   vertical  shaft,   caved   fidl ;   540   feet   drifts.     Values 
reported.   7   per  cent  copper,   gold  not   given.     Worked  for 
gold    near    surface    for    some    years.      Gossan    carries    gold. 
Limonite  and  liematite. 

Algol  Mine.— Tliis  is  one  of  tlie  <M.pi)er  prospects  opened  in 
the  early  sixties  and  subsequently  abandoned.  The  present 
owner  reopened  it.  It  is  in  section  !».  township  1:?  north. 
range  7  east,  a  few  miles  southeast  of  Spenceville,  Nevada 
County.  Tlie  vein  channel  is  50  to  60  feet  wide.  The  more 
highly  mineralized  portion  constituting  the  ore  is  from  20 
inches  1(»  10  feet  in  width,  the  ore  occurring  in  lenses.  The 
length  of  ore  now  forming  the  shoot  is  90  feet.  There  is  one 
shaft  120  feet  deep.  Avith  a  drift  running  north  100  feet, 
and  another  shaft  120  feet  deep,  with  drifts  at  the  50 
and  lOO-foot  levels.  A  crosscut  runs  from  one  shaft 
for    65    feet    to    the    west.      The    ores    are    red    oxide    and 


208  THE  COPPER  RESOURCES  OF  CALIFORNIA. 

blue  and  green  copper  minerals,  besides  considerable  native 
copper  in  sheets  and  bunches.  Native  gold  also  accompanies 
this  deposit.  Ten  carloads  of  ore  were  shipped  to  a  reduction 
works,  which  averaged  20  per  cent  copper.  Electric  power 
for  mining  and  reduction  purposes  can  be  readily  obtained. 
On  the  south  of  the  Algol  mine  there  is  a  shaft  on  an  exten- 
sion claim,  80  feet  deep.  This  shows  copper  ore.  Farther  to 
the  south,  going  to  Coon  Creek,  there  are  five  shafts,  with 
depths  of  about  50  feet  each,  sunk  years  ago,  and  all  showing 
strong  copper  indications.  Farther  south,  beyond  Coon  Creek, 
there  is  a  shaft  40  feet  deep,  showing  some  copper.  On  the 
Lardner  ranch,  and  on  the  Keiler  ranch,  three  miles  south  of 
Lardner's,  there  are  also  strong  croppings  of  copper-bearing, 
rocks. 

Valley  View  Mine. — This  property  consists  of  90  acres 
patented  ground,  located  in  section  24,  township  I'-i  north, 
range  6  east,  at  an  elevation  of  610  feet,  about  six  miles  from 
Lincoln,  a  station  on  the  Southern  Pacific  Railroad.  The  lode 
is  200  feet  between  walls  of  schistose  rock ;  strike  60  west ; 
dip  72  northeast,  with  gossan  100  feet  wide  that  can  be 
traced  over  1000  feet  along  the  vein.  This  gossan  carries  in 
gold  and  silver  from  $1  to  $10  per  ton,  and  is  reported  to 
average  $4  per  ton.  The  mine  was  worked  for  years  for  the 
gold  in  the  gossan.  The  ore  varies  in  width  from  5  to  over 
30  feet,  and  consists  of  iron  and  copper  sulphides  and  oxides, 
zinc  and  some  native  copper  in  a  couple  of  andesite  dikes 
which  occur  in  tlie  center  of  the  lode.  The  water  from  the 
mine  carries  copper  and  passes  through  precipitating  boxes. 
The  shipping  ore  is  reported  to  carry  10  per  cent  copper  and 
some  value  in  gold  as  high  as  $30.  Development  consists  of 
three  shafts,  one  170  feet  deep  and  equipped  with  a  hoist,  and 
400  feet  of  adits.  Besides  there  are  the  necessary  liuildings, 
blacksmith  shop,  etc..  and  2  Huntington  5-foot  mills.  Owner, 
W.  B.  Hellings.  San  Francisco. 

Dairy  Farm  Mining  Company. — The  Dairy  Farm  mine  is 
situated  nine  miles  nortiieast  of  Sheridan,  on  the  Southern 
Pacific  Railroad,  in  section  27,  township  14  north,  range  6  east, 
IMount  Dial)lo  meridian ;  owners.  Dairy  Farm  ^Mining  Com- 
pany;  office.  71  Broadway.  New  York;  Corey  C.  Brayton, 
manager.  Van  Trent  post  office.    Strike,  north  2  degrees  west ; 


PLACER    COUNTY COPPER    MINES    AND    CLAIMS.  209 

(lip.  tiU  ilegivt'.s  east;  lout  wall,  .schist  ami  ^rcoustoiu' ;  hauiring 
wall,  j^reeustone.  Ore,  iron  oxide  at  surface,  some  gold  and 
silver.  At  about  85  feet  in  deptli  sulphides  l)egiiL  Iron  pyrite, 
ehaleopyrite.  Values  reported,  eopper  .'i^  per  t-ent,  sulpliur 
40  per  cent,  gold  $30  in  places.  Ore  is  a  replacement.  Vciiu 
lT)  to  50  feet  wide  l)eveh)pment,  590-foot  60-degree  incline 
shaft,  three  compartments;  HOOO  feet  of  di'ifts.  cuts,  and 
raises.  Equipment,  70-foot  4-pOvSt  head  frame;  machine  shop; 
ot!ice  building;  boarding  house:  cottages;  l(»0-ton  cyanide  plant 
for  surface  ores;  compressor;  hoist,  electric.  Power,  electric, 
75(>-lu)rsepower.     Area,  160  acres. 

Thomen  Mine. — Located  in  sections  -4  and  5.  townsliip  13 
north,  ranue  8  east.  .Mount  I)ia])lo  meridian  ;  owiiei-.  A.  Thomen, 
Auburn.  Placer  ("ouuty.  Ai-rn.  Tdd  acn-s.  Strike,  north  5 
degrees  west;  dip.  80  degree  east;  formation,  schist.  Ore, 
ehaleopyrite.  malachite,  iron  oxide,  iron  pyrite.  Width  of 
vein  not  known.  Development,  90-foot  shaft.  Hlcvation.  1450 
feet.  The  mine  is  eight  miles  north  nf  .\iiliiiiii.  There  is  a 
good  wagon  I'oad  to  Auburn. 

Davenport  Mine. — Located  in  section  15,  township  12  north, 
range  8  east.  Mount  I)ial)lo  meridian.  al)out  one  mile  south  of 
Aulmrn;  owner.  N.  K.  Davenport,  AuburiL  Strike,  south  3 
degrees  east;  dii),  80  degrees  east.  Walls,  slate.  Ore.  (puirtz, 
ehaleopyrite,  nudachite,  iron  oxide,  iron  pyrite.  \'ein  alxtut  2 
feet  wide.  DevelopnuMit,  70-foot  incline  sliaft.  single  compart- 
ment. Elevation.  1200  feet.  Reported  values,  copper  1  per 
cent,  gold  75  cents.  Small  lioist.  Power,  steam.  lO-horse- 
])uwei'.     Ti'ail  to  mine. 

Nevada  Mining  Company. — Located  in  section  32.  township 
14  north,  range  S  east.  .Mount  Diablo  meridian.  .\rea.  150 
acres  in  Placer  County  and  30  acres  in  Nevada  County.  L.  G. 
Schuster,  manager.  Auburn.  Strike,  north  5  degrees,  west; 
dip.  30  degrees  east.  In  diorite.  near  slate.  Ore,  ehaleopyrite, 
malachite,  iron  oxide  and  iron  pyrite.  Width  of  vein  not 
known.  Development.  55  feet;  2-C(mipartment  incline  shafts. 
P^levation.  1475  feet.  Values,  gold,  silver,  copper.  Efpiipment, 
blacksmith  shop,  shaft  building,  and  boarding  house.  Copper 
showing  in  three  places,  small  amount  on  surface.  Railroad 
eight  miles  north  of  Auburn.     Good  wagon  road  to  Auburn. 

14— RrL.  50 


210  'I'lii';  cori'i^K  liKsoriiCKs  of  California. 

Elder  Mine. — This  mine  is  located  four  and  a  half  miles 
\\t\sl  of  Clipper  Gaj).  on  Southern  Pacific  Railroad,  in  section 
4,  township  13  north.  I'an^e  8  east.  Mount  Diablo  meridian; 
owner,  Kobert  Elder,  Auburn.  Area,  300  acres  in  Placer 
County  and  60  acres  in  Nevada  County.  Strike,  north  5 
degrees  west;  dip,  80  degrees  east.  Ore,  chalcopyrite,  mala- 
chite, red  oxide  of  copper,  iron  pyrites,  iron  oxide;  small 
amount  of  molybdenite,  showing  in  a  granodiorite.  Foot  wall, 
probably  slate.  Width  of  vein  not  known.  Development, 
25-foot  vertical  sliaft  in  granodiorite.  Elevation,  1550  feet. 
Wngon  road  to  railroad. 

Big  Pine  Mine. — In  section  16,  township  12  north,  range  8 
east;  J.  A.  Bonk  and  C.  R.  Buslmell.  owners.  Shaft  170  feet 
deep,  showing  chalcopyrite.  said  to  carry  10  to  12  per  cent  of 
copper. 


EL  DORADO  COUNTY. 


El  Dorado  County,  the  scene  of  jMar.shall's  discovery  of  gold 
and  the  earliest  beginning  of  the  modern  era  of  gold  mining, 
includes,  through  its  lower  western  portion,  along  the  edge  of 
the  Sacramento  Valley,  about  25  miles  of  the  foothill  copper 
belt.  Along  this  line  the  belt  mentioned  displays  many  copper 
deposits  that  have  been  prospected  in  the  superficial  way 
common  to  the  Sierra  Nevada  array  of  the.se  deposits.  They 
are  but  a  little  north  of  the  section  of  the  belt  through  Amador 
and  Calaveras  counties,  in  which  the  chief  development  and 
production  of  this  copper  belt  have  occurred. 

None  of  the  counties  of  the  slope  presents  more  favorable 
conditions  for  mining  and  none  oflfers  a  wider  or  more  attrac- 
tive field  for  mining  enterprise.  The  chief  of  the  mineral  belts 
that  cross  the  county  is  the  ^Mother  Lode,  the  northern  end  of 
which  is  near  the  northern  boundary  and  along  which,  across 
the  county  southward,  is  a  succession  of  valuable  and  promis- 
ing quartz  mines.  Since  the  exhaustion  of  the  rich  surface 
placers  and  the  cessation  of  hydraulic  mining,  quart/  mining 
is  the  leading  feature  of  the  county's  niinine  industry.     There 


EL  DORADO  COUNTY.  211 

iiic  iii.iiiv  iiiilt'S  of  uiiprospof'ted  aiR-iciit  river  channels.  The 
northern  and  sonlliern  honndarios  are  formed  respeetively  l»y 
the  Middle  Fork  of  the  American  and  the  ("osumnes  River, 
and  these  streams,  with  the  South  Fork  of  the  American  and 
the  many  tril)utary  streams,  bounteously  water  the  county  and 
att'(»ril  convenient  sources  of  powci-.  The  timber  resources  are 
those  common  to  the  slope.  The  western  portion  of  the  county 
has  a  deliirlitful  climate,  and  the  foothill  mineral  belt  runs 
tlirou^'h  a  rich  and  settled  re^non.  It  is  crossed  by  the  branch 
railroad  running''  to  Plaeervill(\  While  <rold  remjiins  the  min- 
eral product  of  <)versliad()wiii<^  importance,  the  county  has 
other  minerals  in  large  varict\'.  Near  Placerville  is  an  eight- 
mile  belt  of  finely  laminated  slates,  in  which  several  slate 
quarries  have  been  opened.  This  is  the  only  county  in  which 
slate  is  commercially  produced. 

While  a  number  of  the  best  developed  copper  properties  dis- 
play very  wide  veins  carrying  ores  that  often  assay  well,  and 
continuous  gossan  cappings  of  copper-bearing  lodes  can  be 
traced  for  miles,  no  producing  mines  of  importance  have  been 
developed.  Tunnels  and  drifts  aggregating  thousands  of  feet 
have  been  run  in  the  work  of  prospecting,  and  several  prop- 
erties have  thus  been  opened  sufficiently  to  indicate  values 
worthy  at  least  of  investments  necessary  for  further  explora- 
tion. Some  of  the  ore  bodies  carry  good  values  in  gold  and 
silver  along  with  good  percentages  of  copper  sulphides.  The 
characteristics  of  l)oth  vein  iii.illcr  jind  walls  display  much 
variety.  There  is  every  indication  of  an  east  and  west  belt 
in  the  foothill  section.  Lilyanui  and  Pioneer  are  on  the  east 
iii'lt.  while  tile  Alabaster  is  on  the  west  belt. 

.\ii()tliei'  l)e]t  might  include  the  Noonday  and  E.  E.,  east  of 
El  Dorado.  These  two  are  just  at  the  east  line  of  the  ^Mariposa 
slate.  About  three  miles  north  is  the  Larkin  copi)er  mine,  on 
the  same  belt,  as  it  is  along  the  east  edge  of  the  Mother  Lode 
formation.  About  twelve  miles  north  is  the  El  Dorado  Copper 
Company  and  otlici-  pi-operties.  that  is,  just  east  of  the  ^Mother 
Lode  formation. 

Alabaster  Cave  Mine. — The  property  is  located  on  180  acres 
patented  land  in  sections  10  and  l').  township  11  north,  range 
8  east,  elevation  800  feet,  five  miles  from  Newcastle  .station, 
on  the  Southern  Pacific  Railroad:  owner.   AV.  Russell.   Santa 


212  THE  COPPER  RESOURCES  OF  CALIFORNIA. 

Cruz,  Californi.i.  A  strong,  unbroken  ledge,  12  to  20  feet  wide, 
between  ;i  lime  hanging  and  a  slate  foot  wall,  strike  north, 
dip  no  degrees  east,  can  be  traced  for  six  miles,  showing  solid 
gossan  30  feet  wide.  The  vein  matter  consists  partly  of  min- 
eralized diabase,  and  8  to  10  feet  of  ore,  composed  of  oxides, 
malachite,  aznrite,  etc.,  and  some  native  copper  near  the  sur- 
face, and  of  sulphides,  chalcopyrite,  bornite,  etc.,  in  depth, 
which  are  reported  to  average  3  to  4  per  cent  copper,  with 
some  values  of  gold  and  silver.  There  are  three  shafts,  two  of 
50  feet  and  one  of  300  feet,  and  Uvo  tunnels,  one  of  100  and 
one  of  30  feet. 

Kelley  Bros,  own  a  mine  on  the  560  acres  patented  ground 
in  section  10,  township  11  north,  range  8  east,  two  miles  north 
of  Alabaster  Cave  mine.  The  main  vein  is  40  feet  wide.  Xo 
capping.  There  is  a  network  of  ledges  similar  to  the  White- 
Rock  country  in  IMariposa  County.  The  openings  are  2000  feet 
of  drifts  and  tunnels.  The  ore  carries  gold,  silver,  and  copper. 
One  ledge  is  reported  to  yield  ore  assaying  5  to  11  per  cent  of 
copper. 

Lilyama  Mine. — In  section  3,  township  11  north,  range  9 
east;  owners,  Robert  Crocker  &  Co.,  of  Placerville.  The  i)iM»p- 
erty  consists  of  240  acres  of  patented  land.  The  bMigtli  of  the 
vein  covered  by  the  claim  is  half  a  mile;  the  width,  from  tiOO 
to  800  feet.  Granite  forms  the  east  wall,  and  (piartz  poi'j)hyry 
the  west.  Between  these  lies  a  band  of  mineralized  limestone, 
l)roy)ably  pitching  to  the  east.  The  croppings  are  gossan  and 
nearly  pure  black  iron  oxide  (magnetite).  The  dejxjsils  were 
first  slightly  opened  in  the  sixties  by  cuts  and  shorf  tunnels. 
which  were  driven  until  they  encountered  the  ironstone.  When 
that  was  reached  the  prospectoi"s  qnit,  just  before  encountering 
the  copper  ore,  for  which  they  were  evidently  seeking.  The 
later  developments  were  commenced  in  August,  1889,  and  were 
continued  about  a  y(>ar.  They  consist  of  four  main  tunnels 
and  one  prospect  shaft  20  feet  deep.  The  ores  are  principally 
sul])hides,  l)ut  there  are  also  other  varieties  of  copper  ore. 
The  ore  masses  occur  in  lenses  in  the  limestone.  The  mine  is 
eleven  miles  from  Auburn,  Placer  County,  connected  with  that 
place  by  a  good  stage  road.  Elevation,  1050  feet.  Strike 
of  vein  north,  dip  west.  Ore  seems  replacement  of  porphyry, 
and   is  reported   to   average   10  per  cent  copper,   10  ounces 


HL  DOKAIX)  C'orXTY — COl'l'KR   MINKS  AND  CI-Al.MS.  2l:{ 

silviT.  ;iimI  •+!(•  ill  jTdM.     The  niiiif  is  cquipix'd  with  all  ih-ccs- 
sary  l)iiil(li[iir.s.  hiacksiiiilh  shop,  assay  oHicc.  etc 

Pioneer  Mine. — 'Piiis  is  an  extension  of  the  Lilyaiiia.  The 
Vein  ore  and  I'm-nialion  are  pi-eeiseiy  the  same  in  itoth  niines. 
It  is  in  seetion  :i.  township,!  1  noiMh.  ranj^o  !)  east.  The  owner 
is  Williain  Ilaaker.  The  vein  matter  is  50  to  60  feet  wide. 
The  vein  runs  the  leiiLith  of  the  80  aeres  of  patented  firound. 
It  is  opened  by  a  main  tunnel  900  feet  lon^'  with  two  branches, 
one  of  350  feet  and  another  of  200  feet.  There  are  two  shafts, 
one  of  90  feet  and  one  of  100  feet,  connected  at  bottom  by  a 
drift  50  feet  lonjr.  These  enconnter  a  good  body  of  ore.  which 
consists  of  bornite.  malacliite.  copper  and  iron  pyrites,  some 
oxides  and  some  «rold  and  silver.  Klovation  lOlO  feet.  Strike 
of  vein  north,  dip  west. 

Homestead. — Tliis  property,  which  has  been  worked  for  the 
i:ol(l  eontetits  of  a  led^M'  14  feet  wide,  is  three  miles  west  of 
(Ireenwood  at  the  northern  side  of  the  county,  and  displays 
ore  carryintr  a  considerable  percentage  of  copper.  Owner, 
Mr.  McC'rary. 

Cambrian  Mine. — Jn  section  23.  township  11  north,  range  9 
ea^t.  about  ten  miles  from  Placerville.     When  tirst  opened  in 
the  fifties  it  was  for  gold,  but  latterly  the  good  percentage  of 
copper  has  brought  this  mineral  into  prominence.    The  present 
owner  is  the  Cambi-ian  ]\lining  and  .Milling  Company,  a  corpo- 
ration,  of   which   F.    Thomas   is  president,   Leonard   Thomas 
general  manager,  and  D.  R.  Roberts  superintendent.    The  com- 
pany took  possession  in  January.  1898.    The  width  of  the  three 
veins  passing  through  the  property  is  from  15^^  feet  down  to 
an  average  of  G  to  8  feet.    The  veins  are  from  50  to  70  feet 
apart.     The  vein  matter  is  talcose  schist  and  lime.     The  east 
wall  is  granodiorite.  the  west  serpentine.     Between  these  are 
bands  of  schist  and  limestone.    The  croppings  are  talcose  schist 
and  gassans  in  the  schistose  rock.     All  dip  to  the  east.     There 
are  three  tunnels — one  of  113  feet,  the  second  of  220  feet,  the 
third  of  13()0  feet  in  length.     Also  two  winzes,  each  187  feet 
below  the  1360-foot  tunnel.    There  are  over  1350  feet  of  drifts. 
The  ore  is  sulphide,  green   carbonate,   red  oxide,   and  native 
copper,   and  carries   reported   values  from   8  to   16   per  cent 
eop|>er.     The  most  interestinii  feature,  however,  of  this  ore  is 


214  THE  COPPER  RESOURCES  OF  CALIFORNIA. 

the  quantity  of  <rold  it  carries.  The  company  has  shipped 
sieveral  carloads  of  ore  as  it  came  from  the  vein  with  no  assort- 
ing, reported  to  be  10  per  cent  copper.  The  lower  tunnel  has 
be«Mi  extended  to  2500  feet. 

Cosumnes  Copper  Mine. — This  property  lies  off  the  copper 
belt  east  of  the  .Mother  Lode,  in  section  25,  township  9  north, 
range  12  east,  and  was  opened  in  very  early  times.  The  vein 
courses  east  of  north  and  west  of  south,  and  is  mineralized 
limestone  and  amphibolite  schist.  The  ore  is  sulphide-,  green 
and  blue  carbonate,  oxide,  silicate,  and  peacock,  with  reported 
values  of  over  4  per  cent  copper.  One  tunnel,  100  feet 
long,  cuts  the  vein  for  30  feet.  A  winze  is  sunk  in 
the  tunnel  30  feet,  all  in  ore.  Another  tunnel.  150  feet 
long,  passes  westerly  though  a  light-colored  diorite  rock 
to  the  vein,  and  then  turns  and  follows  its  course  for 
60  feet.  Another  tunnel  runs  toward  the  east  for  80  feet 
through  the  granite  hanging  wall.  The  limestone  belt  is  500 
feet  Avide.  There  appears  to  be  no  iron  capping.  The  sul- 
phides come  to  the  surface  in  the  limestone.  Area.  42  acres 
patented,  63  acres  locations.  Elevation.  2010  feet.  Distance 
from  Placerville,  station  on  Southern  Pacitie  Railroad,  twenty 
miles.  Ore  is  reported  to  carry  values  in  gold  and  silver 
besides  copper.  The  mine  is  cfjuipped  with  water  power  gen- 
erated by  a  4-foot  "impulsive"  wheel  under  26-foot  head, 
driving  a  3-drill  compressor  and  a  2-cylinder  20-horsepower 
air-driven  hoist.  Water  is  carried  in  a  Hume  one  and  a  quarter 
miles  long.  All  necessary  buildings  are  on  the  ground.  Owners, 
Rio  Vista  Gold  and  Copper  Mining  Company,  Fairplay.  El 
Dorado  County. 

Wm.  Rarklege  and  S.  AV.  ?*Iiller  own  a  claim  in  section  13. 
township  12  north,  range  10  east,  on  140  acres  of  patented 
ground.  The  croppings  show  a  gossan  cap  100  feet  wide.  A 
tunnel  has  been  driven  118  feet.  Elevation.  2610  feet.  Strike 
of  ledge,  north  25  degrees  west;  dip.  70  degrees  east.  Very 
little  development  has  been  done.  There  are  indications  of 
copper.     The  formation  is  slate. 

Ford  Group,  Contraband  Tunnel. — Ar(>a.  60  acres  (loca- 
tions), in  section  24,  township  12  north,  i-ange  10  east,  near 
Georgetown,  twenty  miles  west  of  Auburn,  on  the  Southern 
Pacific  Railroad.     Elevation,  3550  feet.     Owners,  El  Dorado 


lii.-j&..«^iA         '^:><<il 


1 


cosL-.MXES  corrKii  mini:.  ki-  ucjuaih)  county. 


CONTRABAND   TUNNEL.    EL   DORADO  COUNTY. 


21()  THE  COPPER  RESOURCES  OF  CALIFORNIA. 

Copper  Conipniiy:  AV.  E.  Everson.  inanav:er.  Vein  about  12 
feet  wide  ])et\veen  a  liaimiii.u  wall  of  micaeeous  schist  and  a 
diorite  foot  wall.  Strike,  iioi-tli  SO  de<iTees  east;  dij).  4')  de<ireas 
north.  Oiv.  oxides,  native  i-opper,  enarjiite,  antl  sulphides, 
reported  to  contain  as  hi<jh  as  18  per  cent  of  copper  in  places. 
])c\('lopment.  several  tunnels  and  a  ()5-foot  incline. 

Arizona  Claim. — North  of  the  above  described  tunnel.  It 
has  uossan  cropjiinps  100  feet  wide. 

Copper  Chief. — Owners.  William  .lames  and  E.  A.  Beck- 
stead.  Lies  in  townshi})  12  north,  ran^'e  10  cast,  two  miles 
east  of  Geoructow  II.  iTOSsan  croppings  lUO  to  200  feet  wide. 
Walls  serpentine. 

Agara  Claim. — '"I^ig  Jim."  a  Chinese,  owner;  one  half  mile 
north  of  the  Cosumnes  mine,  in  section  II),  township  8  north, 
range  9  east.     Shaft  25  feet  deep. 

Boston  Mine. — This  is  an  old  mine  about  four  miles  Avest 
of  Siiiiii^le  Sfjrings.  in  section  22.  township  11  north,  range  9 
east.  It  has  a  shaft  about  400  feet  deei>.  The  owners  extracted 
and  shipped  good  ore  up  to  the  seventies.  \'ein  matter,  schists; 
oi'c.  sulphides. 

Dr.  Wren  Claim. — In  sect  ion  7.  township  9  north,  range 
11  east;  east  of  Cilio's  ranch,  and  east  of  the  ^Mother  Lode. 
A-^ein  matter  talcose  schist,  foot  wall  porphyry,  hanging  wall 
black  slate.  \'ein.  6  feet  wide;  shaft.  18  feet  deep.  Several 
o])en  cuts.    Reported  values  5  to  18  per  cent  copper. 

Robert  Claim. — Owned  by  W.  E.  and  L.  Robert,  in  section 
13.  township  9  north,  range  11  east.  Vein  is  3i/i>  feet  wide. 
Formation  slate,  with  a  quartz  vein  on  the  east  side.  Foot  wall 
schist,  hanging  wall  slate.  Shaft  80  feet  deep  and  a  tunnel 
l.")0  feet  long,  tapping  ledge.  Copper  content  reported  to  be 
from  4  to  24  ]^vr  cent. 

There  ai'c  several  holes  between  Shingle  Springs  and 
Latrobe.  wlier(>  former  prosjieetors  searched  for  copper.  The 
developments  are.  however,  so  slight  that  they  serve  to 
indicate  the  presence  of  copper  ore  rather  than  the  extent  of  it. 

The  Bryant  ranch,  in  section  2.  township  8  north,  range  9 
east,  one  and  a  half  miles  northwest  from  Latrobe.  Ledge  4 
feet  Avide ;  shaft  65  feet  deep.    Idle  since  1860.     Ore  carbon- 


Ki.  DttHAix)  (•()^^"l'^■ — copi'iiiv  .mi\i:s  .\ni>  claims.  1*17 

jitr  ;iii(l  iri'jiv  oxide  loppcr.  <  >\viit'r.  "  Uiir  .liiii."  a  ('liiiu'sc. 
wilt)  alsd  nuns  i\  piopcrty  in  sect  ion  S.  t(»\viislii|)  S  north,  raiii^e 
!)  east,  five  mill's  north  of  ('o|)p('i-  Hill.  \'t'in  li  int-lics  wide. 
TniUH'l  li'ii  feet.     Oi'r  cai'lxtiialc  and  trray  cop])!-!". 

Larkin  Mine,  Diamond  Si)i'inLis;  IocuIlhI  in  section  i!'.), 
township  !<•  north,  rane-e  11  east.  .Mount  Diablo  meridian, 
one  and  a  half  miles  west  of  Diamond  Springs,  on  the  Southern 
Paeitie  :  o\\  nei'.  Watieii  Lai'kin.  IMacerville.  California.  .\i'ea. 
48  aeres  ( patented K  Strike  of  vein,  north  L'2  degrees  east  ;  dip. 
80  degrees  east.  W.ills.  schist.  Elevation.  1!)]0  feet.  \'.'iii.  :{ 
feet  w  itle.  ( )i'c  :  clialco|»\  rite,  nialacliilc.  ii-on  pyrite.  iron  oxide, 
gold,  silver,  qnartz.     Shoots  dip   north.      Few  tons  of  ore  on 

dump.       Ixepol'ted    values,   cojjper.    IH    |»er  t-ellt  ;   sulphui'.   40    pel" 

eent ;  gold.  >\^'2 :  silver,  trace.  Development.  llJO-foot  xcrtical 
2-(M)mpai-tment  shaft;  14()-foot  drifts.  E<|uii)ment,  4-post  head 
frame:  2-cylinder.  single  motion  geared  hoist;  i^O-horsepower. 
Also  pumping  engine;  jiowei*.  steam.  (Jossan,  iron-stained 
schist.  Califorjiia  Sash  and  Door  Company's  narrow  gauge 
railroad  runs  within  400  feet  of  this  property. 

Hale  Mine,  h'airplay;  located  in  section  2;"),  township  0 
iioitli.  I'aniic  12  east.  Mount  Diablo  meridian;  owner.  N.  B. 
Hale,  Fairplay.  California;  south  extension  of  Cosumnes 
mine.     Reported  as  showing  some  eopper. 

Revoir  Mine,  I'ilot  Hill;  located  in  section  12.  township 
11  north,  range  8  ea.st,  Mount  Diablo  meridian;  eleven  miles 
west  to  Newcastle  on  Southern  Pacific.  Area,  160  acres 
(patent).  HIevatiou.  1675  feet.  Strike  of  vein,  north;  dip, 
east.  South  I'Xteusion  ol'l'osta  (daim.  This  covers  main  peak 
of  Pilot  Hill.    Good  wagon  road  to  Newcastle. 

Oest  Mine. — This  mine  is  located  seven  miles  north,  one 
half  mile  east  of  Auburn,  in  section  4.  township  1:?  north, 
range  8  east,  Blount  Diablo  meridian  ;  owner.  IT.  Oest,  Auburn. 
Area.  10  ;ici*es.  Strilce.  noi'tli  and  south;  dip.  75  degrees 
east.  Walls,  diorite  ami  schist.  Ore:  (dialcopyrite,  iron 
pyrite.  some  native  copper,  malachite;  vei-y  little  go.ssan. 
Width  of  vein  could  not  l)e  determined.  Development.  2-com- 
partment  vertical  shaft,  depth  of  which  could  not  be  deter- 
mined,   but    was    reported    as    70    foci.      Elevation.    1490    feet. 


218  THE  COPPER  RESOURCES  OF  CALIFORNIA. 

Equipment.   2-post   head  frame,  about   18   feet   high.     Black- 
smith sliop.     Good  wagon  road  to  Auburn. 

Cambrian  Mine. — Lotus  post  otiKct'.  Development,  hnvor 
adit  about  2500  feet.  Otherwise  about  same  as  1902.  Bulletin 
No.  2-i.  Work  was  stopjXMl  about  tln'  lime  Xo.  2:?  Avas  pub- 
lished, and  there  has  been  no  work  sincf. 

Pioneer. — Located  in  section  3.  township  11  north,  range 
9  cast.  .Mount  Diablo  meridian.  Thirteen  miles  northwest  to 
Auburn,  on  Southern  Pacific.  Owner.  William  Ilaaker.  Xow 
York  City.  Area,  80  acres  (patent).  Strike  of  vein,  north; 
dip,  west;  hanging  wafl.  diorite;  foot  wall,  granodiorite.  Ele- 
vation. 1010  feet.  Ore:  bornite,  malachite,  chaleopyrite,  iron 
oxide,  iron  pyrite,  quartz,  gold  and  silver.  Gossan,  some 
hematite  and  magnetite;  iron-stained  diorite. 

Irland,  Plaeerville ;  located  in  section  15,  township  10 
north,  range  10  east,  Blount  Diablo  meridian,  three  miles 
northeast  to  Plaeerville  on  Southern  Pacific  Railroad;  owner, 
H.  Ii.  Irland,  Plaeerville.  California.  Area.  420  acres 
(patent)  ;  strike  of  vein,  north;  dip.  east;  walls,  granodiorite. 
Elevation.  1510  feet.  Ore:  chaleopyrite,  gossan,  iron-stained 
granodiorite.  Development.  75-foot  vertical  shaft,  2-eom- 
partment ;  18-foot  drift  from  deep  shaft.  Values  reported, 
2  per  cent  copper.  Some  gold  and  silver.  Under  bond  to 
Barry  &  Wilkins.  Some  ore  taken  from  deep  shaft  and 
shipped  to  AVales.  England,  about  1866. 

Costa  Ranch. — This  mine  is  located  in  section  12.  town- 
ship 11  north,  range  8  east.  [Mount  nial)lo  meridian,  eleven 
miles  west  to  Newcastle,  on  Southern  Pacific  Railroad;  owner. 
Frank  Costa.  Pilot  Hill.  El  Dorado  County.  Area.  160  acres 
(patented).  Elevation.  1625  feet;  strike,  north;  dij).  east. 
Development.  60-foot  vertical  shaft  in  iliyolite.  Several  cuts, 
most  of  them  caved.  Ore :  some  malachite,  chaleopyrite. 
quartz,  iron  pyrite.  Geology:  cap  of  hill,  rhyolite.  Beneath 
this  .shows  an  andesite.  On  foot  wall  side  shows  diorite.  Not 
enough  work  to  determine  other  wall.  Work  done  on  north 
peak  of  Pilot  Hill. 

E.  E. — Situated  in  section  18.  township  9  north,  range  11 
east.    Mount    Diablo   meridian ;    owner.    Joseph    Sdiupple.    El 


EL  DORADO  COUNTY— COPPER  MIXES  AND  CLAIMS.  Jl'* 

Dorado.  Font-  and  oiu'  half  inil.s  m.rtliwest  to  El  Dorado 
on  South.Ti.  i'a<Mti«'  Railroad.  Area,  GO  acres  (locations)  ; 
strike  of  vein.  4  degrees  east:  dip.  85  degrees  east;  walls,  slate. 
Elevation.  IISO  feet.  Ore:  honiite.  .-halcopyrite.  in.n  pynte, 
gold,  silver,  (luartz.  Valnes  reported,  copper.  i:»  per  cent; 
gold  $1  •  silver.  1  ounce.  Gossan,  small  amount  of  hematite 
and  "iron-stained  slate.  Vein.  2  feet  Nvi<lo.  Power,  steam, 
r>-horsepower.  Development,  85-foot  vertieal  shaft,  snigle 
compartment:   60   feet   drifting:    1    300-foot    adit;    1    100-foot 

adit. 

Alx.ul  a  mile  north  of  Latrobe  a  prospect  owned  by  W  .  NN  - 
Woods  displays  a  shaft  12  feet  deep  in  a  Vi-in  5  feet  wide. 
Strong  iron  capping.  Vein  matter  s.-bistose  diabase.  Ore, 
suli)hide  and  oxides  of  (•oi>per. 

Bunker  Hill  Claim.— Tn  section  14,  township  12  north, 
range  9  east,  four  miles  soutliwest  of  Greenwood.  There  is  a 
shaft  no  feet  dee]).     Good  .)re.     Owner.  ^U:  Terry. 

Rip  and  Tear  Mine.— Two  miles  north  of  Latrobe.  The 
own<T  \V  II.  l)o.ls..n.  has  KKt  acres  patented,  on  which  the 
copper  b.'lt  appears.  There  is  a  shaft  100  feet  deep,  show- 
ing massive  pyrite  containing  copper.  Some  ore  has  been 
shipped.  The  ores  are  sulphide,  green  carbmuite.  and  red 
oxide.  The  vein  is  about  5  feet  wide.  Still  farther  north 
about  one  mile,  there  is  on  the  same  property  another  shaft  4(^ 
feet  deep.  The  fornuition  of  the  latter  claim  is  the  same  as 
that  of  the  former. 

Bob  Mine.— This  is  a  patented  claim,  formerly  known  as 
the  Iron  Crown  mine.  It  is  owned  by  S.  B.  Selkirk  and  Col. 
George  W.  Dent,  and  is  located  in  section  13.  township  12 
north,  range  10  east,  one  and  one  ([uarter  miles  east  of  George- 
town. There  is  a  gossan  capping^  from  40  to  300  feet  wide. 
The  croppings  show  distinctly  in  one  place  200  feet  in  width 
and  can  be  traced  for  800  feet  in  length.  The  ledge  can  be 
traced  for  ten  miles  north  and  south.  One  spur  on  the  north 
end  crops  40  feet  wide  about  400  feet  south  of  the  north  line. 
About  1200  feet  from  the  south  line  Miller  &  Barklege  are 
running  a  tunnel  to  tap  the  ledge  at  a  depth  of  200  feet. 
Farther  south  on  same  belt  at  the  Ford  mine  considerable  work 


L'L'II  THE  COPPER  RESOURCES  OF  CALIFORNIA. 

is  being  done  Heyond  the  Ford  mine  only  croppings  show, 
no  Avork  having  t)een  done.  Th(»re  are  two  locations  north  of 
the  Boh  claim  showing  strong  croppings  of  copper.  No  work 
has  l)een  done  on  them.  The  deveh)pments  in  the  Bol)  mine 
consist  of  one  75-foot  shaft,  which  was  sunk  on  the  east  wall, 
and  two  shallow  cuts.  The  shaft  was  sunk  to  reach  the  ledge 
at  a  depth  of  100  feet.  The  water  in  the  sliaft  carries  copper 
in  solution.  Tlic  vein  is  l)etween  serpentine  and  slate  walls, 
higlily  mineralized.  The  Dark  Canyon  ditch  runs  through 
the  claim.  From  12  to  15  per  cent  of  copper  and  $30  in  gold 
are  the  reported  values  in  the  Ford  mine  on  the  same  belt  as 
the  Bob  mine.  In  the  Bob  mine  the  reported  values  are  $7 
in  gohl.  silver  1.58  ounce,  besides  .some  copper. 

Noonday. — A  })rospect  in  the  Diamond  Springs  mining 
district,  in  section  18.  township  9  north,  range  11  east,  owned 
by  "Wrenn  &  Proctor  of  Placerville.  Shafts,  respectively  17 
and  28  feet  deep,  showed  a  6-foot  vein  carrying  ore  yielding 
from  traces  to  10  per  cent  of  copper  and  about  $3  in  gold  per 
ton.  with  a  little  silver.  Since  the  mine  was  visited  it  has 
been  bonded  liy  the  Peyton  Chemical  Company  of  San  Fran- 
cisco, which  has  proceeded  with  development.  This  company 
is  the  present  owner  of  tlie  property,  which  consists  of  sixty 
acres  miiural  locations.  Formation,  slate  with  small  diabase 
dikes;  veins  aliout  7  feet  wide;  strike,  north  4  degrees  east; 
dip,  85  degrees  east.  Ore,  sulphides,  reported  to  assay  copper 
5  per  cent,  gold  $2  per  ton,  and  some  silver.  Shaft.  2-compart- 
ment,  130  feet  deep,  with  steam  hoist ;  280-foot  drifts  in  ore. 
Equipped  with  necessary  buildings  and  a  60-horsepower  steam 
engine;  fuel,  crude  oil.  Twelve  men  employed.  Elevation, 
1130  feet:  distance  to  El  Dorado,  on  the  Southern  Pacific  Rail- 
road, four  and  one  half  miles. 

A  few  tons  of  copper  ore  assaying  from  15  to  18  per  cent, 
with  some  gold  and  silver,  have  been  shipped,  during  develop- 
ment, from  a  claim  in  section  8,  township  13  north,  range  8 
east,  seven  miles  north  of  Auburn,  and  owned  by  Peter  Oest 
of  Auburn. 


AMADOR    rol  N'lV.  221 


AMADOR  COUNTY. 


Amador  County,  rhietly  famed  for  its  gold  mines,  holds 
high  rank  in  copper  resources  and  total  output  of  copper 
auiong  the  counties  of  the  footliill  belt.  It  displays  copper- 
l)earing  formations  similar  to  those  of  its  neighbor  on  the 
soutii,  Calaveras  County,  in  which  the  copper  industry  of  the 
State  began,  and  in  which  the  most  important  mines  of  the 
copper  belt  have  been  dt'veloped.  In  ISlil  and  the  succeeding 
years  of  that  period,  several  mines  which  were  opened  yielded 
considerable  (piantities  of  shipping  ore.  l)ut  only  one  has  ever 
been  equipped  with  a  reduction  plant  worthy  of  note.  This 
is  the  Xewton.  which  has  been  one  of  the  leading  and  well- 
known  copper  mines  of  the  belt  for  a  long  period,  though  for 
a  number  of  years  it  has  been  idle  or  worked  on  a  small  scale. 
It  has  a  smelting  plant  of  small  capacity,  but  the  intermittent 
operations  of  recent  years  have  been  confined  to  leaching  ore 
piles,  chiefly  the  old  dumi)s. 

This  is  a  comparatively  small  county,  reaching  as  a  nai-row 
strip  fi-om  the  sununit  of  the  Sierra  range  to  the  low  foothills. 
In  the  higher  Sierras  are  s|)lendid  forests  and  many  lakes,  the 
latter  including  the  group  known  as  the  Blue  Lakes,  which 
conserve  the  water  supply  of  an  extensive  canal  and  ditch 
system,  and  also  of  one  of  the  largest  electric  power  plants  of 
the  State.  Amador  is  distinctly  a  gold-mining  county,  and 
one  of  the  leading  ones  of  the  State,  as  its  gold  output  of 
$1,378,788  in  IDOO  testifies.  Its  fame  as  a  mining  county  rests 
mainly  on  the  section  of  the  Mother  Lode  belt  that  crosses  it. 
Along  this  belt  are  ranged  the  Keiniedy.  Argonaut.  Zeile. 
Oneida.  Central  Eureka.  Wildman-Mahoney.  Keystone,  and 
other  widely  known  gold  quai'tz  mines.  Here  has  been 
the  chief  scene  of  the  successful  reopening  of  old  quartz 
mines  at  great  depth,  and  of  the  demonstration  of  the 
deep  values  of  the  Motiiei"  Lode.  Lignite  has  been  mined 
in  the  western  portion  of  the  county  for  many  years.  I\rarble 
and  building  stone  are  quarried,  and  pottery  clay  is  actively 
produced,  (^uite  a  number  of  diamonds  have  been  found  in 
auriferous  gravels  covering  volcanic  formations  near  Volcano. 


222  THE  COPPER  RESOURCES  OP  CALIFORNIA. 

A  l)ran('h  railroad  reaches  lone  in  the  foothills,  which  has  been 
extended. 

The  copi)er  deposits  occur  in  ainphiholitc  schist  on  l)oth 
sides  of  a  narow  strip  of  little  more  than  a  mile  in  width,  of 
Mariposa  slates,  traversing  the  county  in  a  direction  south  by 
^ast  to  north  by  west  from  the  ]\Iokelunnie  to  the  Cosumnes 
Kiver,  extending  north  into  El  Dorado  and  south  into  Cala- 
veras Count3^  On  the  eastern  belt  are  located  the  Copper 
Hill,  the  Newton,  and  the  Copperopolis  mines  in  Calaveras 
County,  and  a  number  of  prospects.  On  the  western  belt  are 
situated  the  properties  of  the  Pacific  Improvement  Company, 
tlic  Penn  Chemical  Company,  in  Calaveras  County,  and  vari- 
ous undevelopetl  properties  between  them. 

The  character  of  the  ores  is  essentially  the  same  in  all  the 
deposits,  chalcopyrite  with  iron  pyrites  forming  the  bulk,  the 
richer  oxides  and  sulphides  ])eing  comparatively  rare,  but  they 
differ  somewhat  in  composition.  The  ores  from  the  Newton 
and  Copperopolis  mines  on  the  eastern  belt  (the  Copper  Hill 
mine  forms  an  exception)  are  distinguished  l)y  their  purity, 
containing  neither  zinc  nor  any  other  injurious  elements  in 
appreciable  quantities  and  very  little  gold  and  silver,  while 
those  from  the  western  belt,  the  Campo  Seco  mines  et  al., 
carry  more  of  these  obnoxious  metals  and  also  greater  values 
in  gold  and  silver. 

New^ton  Mine. — This  has  been  the  principal  copper  mine 
of  Amador  County  during  the  past  forty  years  and  is  one  of 
the  oldest  and  most  extensively  developed  mines  of  the  foot- 
hill copper  belt.  Tt  is  located  at  Ranlett.  four  miles  east  of 
lone,  on  the  stage  road  to  Jackson  and  Sutter  Creek.  It  was 
opened  in  the  early  sixties  and  worked  quite  vigorously  prior 
to  186fi.  Since  then,  operations  have  been  intermittent  and 
generally  on  a  small  scale.  In  1886  it  passed  to  its  present 
owners,  the  Newton  Copper  Company,  Col.  Horace  D.  Ranlett, 
of  Ranlett,  one  of  the  oldest  copper  operators  of  the  State, 
president  and  manager.  It  was  reopened  in  1887.  was  worked 
at  intervals  thereafter,  and  in  1889  an  80-ton  smelter  was 
installed.  During  1801  leaching  ore  for  cement  was  active 
and  still  continues.  This  mine  is  in  one  of  the  lodes  that  can 
be  traced  for  several  miles  through  this  portion  of  the  county. 


AMADOR   COUNTY — COITKR    MINKS    ANI>    CLAIMS. 


22:^ 


The  'jossan-ciippcd  vein  is  froiii  4  to  ^  fi'<-t  wide,  courses  cast 
of  uurili.  (lips  7<»  (Icirrccs  to  the  cast,  aiitl  (lisi)lays  solid  lon- 
ticular  ore  hoilies.  not  iiiin^d(>d  with  the  coutainins  rock,  as  is 
the  case  at  C'opperopolis  and  mines  elsewhere.  The  property 
has  been  opened  hy  two  shafts,  one  150  and  one  430  feet  deep, 
and  l)y  2<»(»0  feet  of  drifts  on  four  Kvcls.  besides  winzes  and 
stopes.  Tlie  richest  or.'s  were  yiehh'd  in  llie  wori<ings  at  the 
south  end  of  the  mine,  from  whicli  much  ore  r\inniii<j:  IT)  to  25 
per  cent  was  shijiped  h)ng  a«ro.  and  wliere  mining  ceased  at 
300  feet.  To  tlie  nortli  of  the  main  shaft,  where  more  recent 
operations  have  l)een  carried  on.  tlie  ore  is  reported  to  average 
7  per  cent.  The  ores  are  sulphides  and  carry  small  gold 
values.  They  are  well  adapted  for  leaching.  One  interesting 
featnre  of  this  mine  is  the  extensive  mineralization  of  the  foot 
wall,  composed  of  sandstone  and  mineralized  slate.  It  was  but 
recently  discovered  that  here  the  country  rock,  to  a  distance 
of  1.")  to  25  feet  from  the  vein,  was  filled  with  miuei-al  deixisi- 
tions.  mainly  siilphui-cts.  can-yiiiL:  :i  to  ()  per  cent  copper  and 
considerable  iron.  This  mineralized  mass,  Avhich  accompanies 
the  vein  as  far  as  explored,  exhibits  partial  oxidation  to  a  con- 
siderable depth.  The  material  easily  disintegrates,  and  under 
all  the  cifcumstatices  could  be  cheaply  mined.  The  most 
recent  i)eriod  of  activity  at  the  Newton  mine  began  in  1899, 
under  the  stimulus  of  copper  prices.  A  smelting  plant,  con- 
sisting of  one  80-ton  water-jacket  blast  furnace  of  modern 
type,  was  installed  and  the  surface  plant  generally  improved. 
The  hoist  is  now  «'apable  of  operating  to  1000  feet.  During 
liKK).  3500  tons  of  7  i»er  cent  ore  were  mined.  After  heap 
roasting.  3000  tons  of  the  ore  were  smelted  to  a  50  per  cent 
matte  in  a  campaign  of  forty  days.  Five  hundred  ions  of 
the  newl\-  mined  ore  remained  as  fines,  and  went  to  join  the 
.lid  dum])s  for  leaching.  The  matte  produced  was  shipped  to 
Liverpool,  paying  $20  per  ton  railroad  charges  to  New  York 
en  route.  Since  then,  custom  i-edm-tion  plants,  wliich  include 
converters,  have  been  established  in  California,  affording  a 
distinct  improvement  in  the  conditions  encountered  by  any 
copper  property  equipped  with  a  snuill  furnatte  in  which  ores 
can  be  concenti-ated  to  matte.  Since  this  campaign,  the 
smelter  has  remained  idle,  throirtrh  circumstances  not  involv- 


224  11  IK  COPPER  RESOURCES  OF  CALIFORNIA. 

in*?  its  efficiency.  During  the  recent  mining  operations  noted, 
a  drift  on  the  400-foot  level  was  extended  nortli  150  feet. 
passing  out  of  the  old  ore  shoot,  400  feet  long,  and  reaching 
a  short  distance  into  another  one  that  awaits  exploration. 
Throughout  ]!)01.  leaching  operations  were  actively  conducted, 
and  about  40  tons  of  coi)per  cement  were  produced  from  the 
old  dumps,  and  the  fines  from  recent  roasting.  The  dumps 
contain  about  10.000  tons  of  oi-e  roasted  in  past  ycai-s  and 
repeatedly  leached,  some  of  it  twenty  times.  The  sluices. 
carrying  scrap  iron,  through  which  the  water  percolating 
through  the  dumps  is  carried,  aggregate  750  feet.  The  pre- 
cipitated cement  produced  carried  75  to  80  per  cent  of  copper. 
During  the  year,  the  co.st  of  production,  including  labor,  scrap 
iron,  and  water,  and  excluding  the  original  costs  of  mining 
and  roasting,  was  less  than  :]  cents  per  jiound  of  copj^er. 
While  the  i>rice  of  copper  was  maintained,  this  ceuienl  brought 
in  San  Francisco  12  cents  per  pound  for  its  copper  contents. 
Sacking  and  transportation  to  New  York  via  San  Francisco 
cost  about  one  cent  jxt  pound  of  copper  contents.  The  total 
output  of  the  mine  to  date  is  reported  as  33,000  tons  of  ore, 
two  thirds  of  which  has  been  worked  on  the  ground.  Two 
20-foot  winzes  and  the  shaft  sump  show  that  the  400-foot  ore 
body  mined  maintains  its  width  and  values  below  the  400-foot 
level.  These  openings  and  the  150-foot  extension  of  the  400- 
foot  level  constitute  tlie  only  exploration  in  advance  of  mining 
operations. 

X 

Moon  Mine. — Owned  by  the  INIoon  Gold  Mining  Company 
of  Valley  Springs,  of  which  J.  B.  Lucas  is  vice-president  and 
superintendent.  Situated  in  sections  3,  9.  and  10.  township  5 
north,  range  10  east,  about  two  and  a  half  miles  east  of  Richey. 
and  southerly  from  the  Newton  mine.  There  are  two  shafts, 
one  of  which,  equipped  with  a  horse-whim,  is  100  feet  deep. 
The  other  is  140  feet  deep.  The  mineralized  zone  is  over  1000 
feet  wide.  Formation,  diabase  schi.st  down  to  talcose  schist : 
course  of  vein,  northwest  and  southeast.  The  vein  stuff  is  a 
mineralization  of  the  schist.  NO  large  deposits  of  pyrite  or 
chalcopyrite  are  yet  reached.  Gossan  croppings  are  from  IS 
inches  to  8  feet  in  wndth.  Granodiorite  runs  to  the  east  of  all 
prospects  in  this  neighborhood.  The  vein  matter  also  resembles 
closely  that  of  the  mines  in  ^Mariposa  County. 


AMADOR   COUNTY — COl'l'KH    MINKS    AND    fLAIMS.  225 

TluTc  art'  st'wral  aljamloncd  sliafts  in  this  vicinity,  on  the 
thnnps  of  whicli  the  same  kiiul  of  vein  stutt'  and  ore  ean  still 
be  observed.  To  tlie  west  of  the  .Moon  1000  feet  is  another 
old  shaft.  140  feet  deep,  sho\vin«r  the  same  sort  of  formation  as 
does  the  .Moon. 

Thayer  Mine. —  In  section  23.  township  5  north,  range  10 
cast,  a  little  north  of  the  Calaveras  River,  on  a  continuation  of 
the  Satellite  vein.  It  is  opened  by  cuts  and  a  main  shaft. 
240  fret  dcr|).  This  shaft  is  c(|uippcd  with  a  horse-wliini. 
The  ore  is  snli)hi(lc  l)cl(>w  and  carbonate  above. 

lone  City  Mine. — This  i)roi)crty,  opened  in  the  sixties,  is  in 
sections  :i  and  4.  townsliip  5  north,  ranjre  HI  east.  Ore  sulphide 
and  vein  matter  amphibolite  schist,  with  no  iron  caiipin^'. 
Owner.  •!.  Hoone. 

Chaparral  Mine.— Tn  section  10.  township  5  north,  range  10 
east;  has  a  shaft  120  feet  dce|).  which  was  opened  in  1864. 
Now  idle.  The  ore  is  sulphide  and  decomposed  ironstone. 
Vein  forniation.  schistose  diabase  and  amphibolite  schist. 

Russel  Mine. — This  is  on  the  Russel  ranch,  section  10.  town- 
ship .')  north,  ranire  10  east.  The  shaft  is  200  feet  deep.  There 
is  a  lari^^e  diunp.  80  by  20  feet,  of  hi^ddy  mineralized  rock. 
'I'he  vein  foi-?iiation  is  schistose  diabase.     Owner,  II.  Russel. 

Bull  Run  Mine. — On  ^Vharf 's  rantdi.  in  section  15,  town.ship 
5  noi-th.  raii^M"  10  cast.  Sliaft  400  feet  deep.  Large  dump  of 
sulpliide  ore.  Fornuition  of  vein,  schistose  diabase.  Ore  was 
shipped  in  the  sixties  from  this  pi-opeity.  It  was  tlic  reported 
intention  to  work  this  and  tlie  Russel  mine  uiuler  the  direction 
of  the  Huena  Vista  Copper  .Mining  Company. 

The  Thayer  mine  has  been  added  to  tlie  property  of  the 
Penn  Chemical  Company. 

A  group  of  mines  are  situated  in  the  northwestern  part  of 
the  county  in  a  broad,  triangular  formation  of  igneoas  rock, 
quart/,  porphyry,  resting  with  the  ])ase  on  the  Cosumnes  River, 
and  extending  al)out  three  miles  south.  The  principal  vein, 
the  Cosumnes  lode,  known  since  1860,  carries  high-grade  sul- 
phide in  a  gangue  of  bla(d<  shale  and  (puirtz.  A  paralhd 
vein  of  (piartz  carrying  iron  and  copper  sulphides  has 
been  discovered  at  a  short  distance  west  of  the  main  lode. 
This  country  consists  of  low  hills  mostly  covered  with  grass. 

15— Bfl.  50 


226  THE  COPPER  RESOURCES  OP  CALIFORNIA. 

and  has  been  taken  up  for  ranching  purposes  in  large  tracts, 
the  mineral  veins  being  included  within  their  boundaries. 

The  Copper  Hill  Mine. — This  property  comprises  2500  acres 
of  patented  land,  owned  by  W.  F.  Detert.  of  Jackson,  and 
that  portion  on  which  the  old  workings  are  located  lies  in 
sections  34  and  35,  township  8  north,  range  9  east.  Large  slag 
dumps  show  that  at  some  time  in  the  past  the  mines  pro- 
duced considerable  ore.  After  a  long  period  of  idleness  the 
mines  were  opened  again.  The  main  shaft  is  situated  on 
the  Cosumnes  vein,  running  south  by  east  and  north  by 
west,  dipping  nortli  ])y  east  about  60  degrees,  varying 
in  width  from  2  to  4  feet,  and,  judging  by  the  size  of  the 
slopes,  forms  much  larger  ])odies  in  places.  The  ore  is  prin- 
cipally a  fine-grained,  massive  chalcopyrite,  said  to  assay  from 
20  to  30  per  cent  copper,  and  to  contain  apprecialile  values  in 
gold  and  silver.  The  shaft  is  equipped  with  a  10  by  12  double- 
cylinder  steam  lioist,  and  has  attained  a  depth  of  500  feet.  At 
the  80-foot  level  a  drift  runs  nortli  150  feet  and  south  200  feet. 
At  the  130-foot  level  a  drift  runs  south  120  feet,  and  connects 
by  a  50-foot  crosscut  with  the  workings  of  another  shaft; 
another  drift  runs  280  feet  west ;  on  the  230-foot  level  a  drift 
runs  100  feet  north  and  250  feet  south.  On  the  250-foot  level 
one  drift  runs  south  228  feet  and  one  north  328  feet,  from 
which  most  of  the  good  looking  ore  on  the  dump  has  been 
taken.  A  short  distance  from  the  main  shaft  is  located  the 
southeast  shaft,  on  a  vein  running  parallel  with  the  Cosunnies 
vein,  about  50  feet  east  of  it.  It  is  a  3-compartment  Incline 
and  equipped  with  an  8  by  12  doulile-cylinder  steam  hoi.st. 
Tlie  incline  is  144  feet  deep,  and  from  the  bottom  I'uns  one 
drift  50  feet  south  and  one  28  feet  north,  connecting  with  the 
crosscut  from  the  main  shaft.  In  all  other  respects,  this  vein 
is  identical  with  the  Cosumnes  vein,  and  perhaps  it  may  be  a 
spur  only  of  the  latter.  Several  hundred  feet  Avest  of  these 
veins,  a  shaft,  the  ''Blind  Pigeon,"  was  sunk  130  feet  on  a 
quartz  vein  carrying  iron  and  copper  sulphides  and  some  zinc. 
Numerous  prospect  holes  have  been  sunk  along  the  outcrop  of 
the  main  vein,  of  which  the  following  are  the  most  important : 
Tlie  Pine  Tree  shaft,  1500  feet  south  of  main  shaft.  90  feet 
deep;  Little  Oak  shaft,  150  feet  south  of  southeast  shaft.  90 
feet  deep;  air  shaft,  southeast  of  main  shaft.  150  feet  deep; 


AMADOR   COUNTY — COPPER    MINES    AND    CLAIMS.  L'J 


_::( 


ziiK-  shaft.  1)00  feet  north  of  southeast  shaft.  100  iV-ct  (Iccp. 
There  are  over  lL»00  feet  of  shafts  and  over  1800  feet  of  drifts, 
or  more  than  :]000  feet  of  workings  in  the  mines  and  of  surfa<'e 
improvements:  there  are  besides  the  shaft  houses,  worivshops 
and  huihlintrs  \\>v  thr  accdiimiudat ion  of  the  workinir  fni'<-<'. 

The  Johnson  Ranch  Mine.— This  properly  is  local. d  on 
Stony  CreeU.  aJMiiit  livr  iiiilr.s  southwest  of  JaeUson.  in  seetions 
2').  :3r>,  and  M),  township  (i  north,  range  10  east.  TIk;  vein  lies 
l)etween  the  greenstone  and  slate,  eourse  wrst  l.y  north,  dij) 
northeast,  and  two  shafts  have  been  sunk  nn  it.  Tlir  one 
farthest  south  is  said  to  he  DO  feet  deep,  with  .")  to  (J  IVet  of 
vein  carryin-i  ure  reported  at  L'.ti  \u-v  cent  eopper,  s}!3.75  in 
gold,  and  a  little  silver.  About  1500  feet  north  there  is  another 
shaft  said  to  he  (50  feet  deep,  with  a  12-foot  vein  in  the  bottom, 
carrying  ore  of  a  reported  value  of  10  per  cent  eopjx-r.  ^24:  in 
gold,  and  .+'4  silver.  Owiiri-.  Fr;ink  Johnson:  post  offi<-c. 
Jackson. 

The  lone  Coal  and  Iron  Company,  a  bi-anch  of  tli.'  Paeifie 
Iniprovenieiit  Company,  ofliee  Crocker  building,  8an  Francisco, 
has  (i])eiu'd  an  old  mine  on  its  patented  ground  near  Irish 
Hill,  about  three  miles  ikuMIi  of  lone.  The  vein  is  about  4 
feet  wide,  with  amphibolite  schist  for  hanging  aiul  aluminous 
shales  for  foot  wall:  course  north  by  west,  dip  70  degrees  east 
by  north:  ore.  copper  and  iron  sulphides,  with  eonsidera])le 
Muart/.  A  steam  hoist  has  been  installed  at  the  :?00-foot  shaft. 
The  outcrop  can  he  traced  for  a  long  distance.  an<l  foui-  shafts 
are  located  within  1000  feet  from  the  main  shaft.  Superin- 
tendent.  I.  \\'.  Tant;ni.   lone. 

Mineral  City  Mine.— In  town.ship  S  north,  range  0  east; 
owned  by  T.  If.  .\llen.  Ji-.  Shows  indications  of  copper.  The 
property  is  a  half  mile  northwest  of  Forest  Home,  and  com- 
prises 160  acres  of  patented  ground.  Inclosing  rock  the  same 
as  old  Copper  Hill. 

Forest  Home  Mining  Co.— I'l-operty  is  a  half  mile  north  of 
Forest  Home.  W.  IT.  Bradley,  of  Hedlands.  Cal..  representa- 
tive. There  are  four  shafts,  each  about  80  feet  deep.  All  the 
shafts  show  indications  of  copper  ore. 


228  THE  COPPKR  RESOURCES  OF  CALIFORNIA. 

Mutual  Life  Insurance  Co. — This  corporation  owns  2700 
acre.s  of  land  one  mile  north  of  Forest  Home,  on  which  there 
are  five  shafts  of  unknown  dci)ths.  whose  dump  piles  all  show 
coi)p<'r  ore. 

\V.  II.  Whittle  owns  2000  acres  one  mile  southeast  of  Forest 
Home,  on  which  there  is  one  shaft  100  feet  deep,-  with  50-foot 
drifts  each  way  fi-oiii  l)()tt<)ni.  showing  indications  of  cop- 
per ort'. 

An  old  copper  mine  located  at  Dry  Creek,  where  the  road 
crosses  from  Irish  Hill  to  lone,  was  closed  many  years  ago. 
It  is  reported  that  matte  Avas  shipped  from  this  claim  thirty 
years  ago. 


CALAVERAS  COUNTY. 


In  Calaveras  County  the  foothill  copper  belt  has  displayed 
its  most  extensively  developed  mines,  and  from  this  county  has 
come  the  bulk  of  the  total  copper  product  of  the  belt.  Until 
the  opening  of  the  Shasta  County  mines  in  quite  recent  years 
this  county  was  the  preeminent  copper  county  of  the  State, 
though  its  actual  current  production  was  generally  small. 

Calaveras  County  is  the  central  one  of  tlic  ^lother  Lode 
counties,  and  it  is  also  centrally  located  relative  to  the  entire 
auriferous  slate  belt  of  the  Sierra  Nevada  slope.  It  is  trian- 
gular in  shape,  the  apex  resting  on  the  crest  of  the  Sierras,  the 
base  expanding  along  the  edge  of  the  San  Joacjuin  Valley,  and 
the  ]\Iokelumue  and  Stanislaus  rivers,  respectively,  separating 
it  from  Amador  County  on  the  north  and  Tuolumne  County 
on  the  south.  One  feature  of  its  forest  region  is  the  noted 
Calaveras  grove  of  "big  trees"  (Sequoia  gigantea). 

All  physical  conditions  are  favorable  to  mining.  The  county 
is  richly  mineralized  throughout,  presenting  several  mineral 
belts  and  districts.  The  ^lother  Lode  crosses  the  county  along 
a  30-mile  course,  and  in  this  county  displays  the  characteristics 
of  vast  bodies  of  low  and  medium  grade  ore,  presenting  mining 
propositions  of  the  sort  now  especially  attractive  to  conserva- 
tive mining  capital.  On  this  lode,  at  the  northern  side  of  the 
county,   is   the   noted   Gwin   quartz   mine;    by   the   southern 


CALAVERAS   COUNTY.  229 

honiulary  is  the  Melones,  one  of  the  lar<re.st  niinin<r  properties 
in  the  State;  and  between  them  is  the  I'tiea  ^'roiip.  one  of  the 
rankini:  iroUl  mines  of  the  country.  Other  important  mines 
are  ran-retl  alon^  the  UkU'.  The  east  belt,  farther  up  the  slope, 
includes  the  noted  Sheep  Ranch  mine.  Other  belts  and  dis- 
tricts reinforce  the  jrreat  and  (•()mi)aratively  sli^ditly  developed 
^'old  resources  of  the  county,  which  are  now  attractinjr  marked 
attention.  The  auriferous  *;ravel  deposits  of  ancient  river 
channels  aj^jrrejrate  50  miles  in  leiiirtli.  The  k<)1<1  product  in 
l!)(l(i  was  $2.2f)().:n().  and  the  total  mineral  output  $2,:i05.9-l3. 
guart/  crystals  of  rare  size  and  (juality  are  mined  near 
Mokehnune  Hill.  Various  minerals  characteristic  of  the  slope 
abound  and  await  utilization.  The  foothill  re^rion.  in  which 
the  copper  deposits  occur,  also   presents  some^  valual)le   ^n)ld 

(|uart/  veins. 

The  copper  belt,  which  crosses  the  eastern  side  of  the  county 
throutrh    the    foothills    in    ;i    noi-thwesterly    and    southeasterly 
direction,  separated  frcm   llic   Mollicr  Lode  belt  by  the  Hear 
Mi>untain  ran«re.  here  dispbiys  two  important  lodes.    The  nuiin 
one  cro.sses  the  county  and  apix-ars  to  ]iresent   a   fairly  con- 
tinuous system  of  veins,  which  display  considerable  variations 
of  contents,  inclosin*:  formations,  etc.     At  (Vunpo  Seco.  on  llie 
northern  boundary  of  the  county,  is  a  izroup  of  patented  claims, 
(piite  extensively  developed,   which   display   stronjr  veins   and 
ores    carrxini:    some    jrold     and     silver.       Well     toward     the 
south    side    of    the    count  i>     a  IV    tlie    mines    at    Copperopolis, 
the    most    important    of    the    entire    licit     in    the    past,    and 
here  frold  is  absent  from  the  ores.     The  practical  continuity 
of  this  lode   is  shown  by  croppinprs  and   a   «rreat   inimber  of 
shallow  shafts  sunk  all  alon-i'  the  lode  at  various  times.    A  few 
miles  westward  of  this  lode  is  another  one  which  is  traced  for 
a  number  of  miles  and  in  which  is  the  Napoleon,  the  pioneer 
developed  copper  mine  of  the  State.     Heavy  jrossan  capjuu'js 
characterize  both  lodes.     In  early  days  several  mines  on  these 
lodes  other  than  those  of  present  interest  here  described  were 
opened  to  considerable  depths  and  shipped  more  or  less  ore, 
but  they  arc  now  for^'otten.     Some  may  a^'ain  be  jirospected 
at  a   futui'e  time. 

Union  Mine. — By   far  the   most   important  copper  mining 
property  developed  in  California  prior  to  1896  is  the  extensive 


230  THE  COPPER  RESOURCES  OF  CALIFORNIA. 

one  known  since  the  beginning  of,  copper  mining  in  California 
as  the  Union.  For  a  great  many  years  it  has  inchided  the 
Keystone,  which  was.  during  the  same  period,  the  copper  mine 
of  second  rank  in  the  State.  These  two  patented  mines  con- 
stitute tlie  historical  and  widely  known  "Copperopolis  Mines." 
They  are  in  the  town  of  Copperopolis,  which  they  created  in  a 
little  valley  in  the  southwestern  portion  of  Calaveras  County, 
and  in  section  34,  township  2  north,  range  12  c.ist.  on  the  main 
lode  of  the  foothill  copper  belt,  which  here  strikes  30  degrees 
east  of  .south  and  dips  about  60  degrees  east.  The  elevation  is 
1000  feet.  The  Union,  was  the  first  copper  mine  of  the  State 
to  be  productively  developed  on  an  important  scale.  Large 
bodies  of  rich  ore  were  encountered  near  the  surface  and  i)er- 
sisted  downward,  and  for  several  years  succeeding  January, 
1861,  this  mine  produced  the  bulk  of  the  California  copper  ores 
mined  and  shipped.  In  1866,  a  year  or  two  before  the  Union 
first  closed,  it  was  credited  with  having  shipped  56,500  tons 
of  ore  assaying  15  per  cent  or  more,  and  a  much  greater 
(juantity  of  ore  of  lower  grade  had  been  mined.  The  second 
largest  producer  at  that  time,  the  Keystone,  was  credited  with 
5719  tons  shipped.  The  story  of  the  Keystone  during  tliis 
period  runs  on  similar  lines,  but  this  mine  did  not  approach 
the  success  of  the  Union,  which  paid  large  dividends  and  was 
once  held  at  a  valuation  of  about  .1>4.0()0.()00.  Both  mines  were 
then  opened  to  about  the  present  depth,  and  operations  ceased 
with  good  ore  bodies  displayed  by  the  lowest  workings.  At  500 
feet  the  Union  shaft  was  in  an  ore  body  15  feet  wide  ard  of 
medium  grade.  The  Union  remained  closed  from  1868  to  1887, 
nineteen  years.  In  the  latter  year  it  was  \inwatered  under  the 
management  of  IT.  D.  Ranlett.  The  main  shaft  was  sunk  to 
(iOO  tVet,  and  mining  was  resumed  for  about  a  year  and  a  half, 
during  wliich  time  5000  or  6000  tons  of  ore  were  shipped.  In 
1889  a  lOO-ton  Orford  smelting  furnace  was  installed,  without 
vei-y  successful  results.  Operations  again  ceased  in  1892. 
Leaching  the  dumps  has  been  carried  on  during  many  years 
and  a  large  amount  of  cement  copper  has  been  produced. 

The  formation  in  which  these  mines  occur  is  black  pyritous 
slate  and  amphibolite  schists  and  can  be  traced  through  Cala- 
veras County  north  into  Amador  County  and  south  into  Tuol- 
nmiio  Countv.    The  lode  in  which  are  the  Napoleon  and  Campo 


232 


THE  COPPER  RESOURCES  OF  CALIFORNIA. 


Seco  niinos  is  to  the  westward,  the  distance  being  about  six 
miles  from  Copperopoli.s,  while  the  Campo  Seco  mines  at  the 
northern  boundary  of  the  county  are  nljout  three  miles  west 
of  the  Copperopolis  lode,  as  the  latter  is  termed  in  this  county. 
At  the  Union  mine,  and  for  a  consideral)le  distance  north  and 
south,  this  lode  ])resents  a  sinule  vein  of  l)lack  pyritous  shite 
in  a  belt  of  amphil)()lite  schist,  this  formation  exliibitino;  no 


SMELTER  OF  UNION  COPPER  MINING  COMPANY,   COPPEROPOLIS, 

CALAVERAS  COUNTY. 

material  variations.  The  United  States  Geoloijical  Survey  has 
shown  l)()th  vein  and  inclosing  formation  to  Ix'  identical  in 
age  and  character  with  the  slaty  veins  aiid  jiinphibolite  schists 
(greenstones)  of  the  parallel  IMother  Lode  about  twelve  miles 
to  the  east.  At  Copperopolis  the  vein  is  from  3  to  40  feet  wide, 
and  occupies  the  trough  of  a  .small  valley  which  here  averages 
a  half  mile  in  width,  the  valley  itself  being  the  result  of  the 
erosion  of  the  soft  slate  and  of  the  softer  greenstones  directly 
bounding  it.  Being  covered  by  detritus  and  vegetation  the 
vein  exhibits  no  croppings  in  the  immediate  vicinity  of  Copper- 
opolis, and   copper  stains  were  the  only   indications  which 


CALAVERAS   COUNTY— COPPER   CLAIMS.  233  . 

guiclt'cl  the  prnspoctiiiir  thiil    Itnl  to  the  discovery  uf  the  rich 

ore  bodies  l)elo\v. 

The  Tnion  and  Keystone  patented  ehiinis  comprise  ry254  feet 
of  the  lode.  The  property  of  the  Union  Copper  Minintr  Com- 
pany, whieh  is  controlled  by  the  estate  of  Frederick  L.  Ames, 
of  Boston,  also  includes  the  Empire,  the  undeveloped  south 
extension  of  the  Tnion.  an.l  SOO  acres  of  patented  a-ricultural 


iK 


U 


CONCKNTKATOIi.      INKJN      COi'l'lOll     MINING     CuMl'AXV. 
^"^'^'^  COPPKROPOLIS.    CALAVERAS    COUNTY. 

land  north  and  .south  of  the  mines,  ^'ivin^r  the  company  posses- 
sion of  over  three  miles  of  the  lode.  Production  has  l)een  con- 
fined to  the  Union  claim  and  the  south  end  of  the  Keystone 
claim,  and  undcrtri-ound  exploration  practically  so.  The  vein, 
which  in  these  claims  exhibits  a  maximum  width  of  about  40 
feet  and  an  averajre  width  of  about  15  feet,  carries  a  succession 
of  ore  bodies  which  are  lenticular  masses  of  sulphide  copper  ore 
(chalcopyrite)  connected  by  strin«;ers  of  ore.  The  water  level 
is  here  very  close  to  the  surface,  and  the  alteration  of  the  sul- 
phides has"extended  to  a  depth  of  about  30  feet  only.  Within 
this  zone  of  oxidation  the  ore  bodies  1)elow  the  surface  gossan 


234  THE  COPPER  RESOURCES  OF  CALIFORNIA. 

present  a  little  native  copper,  and  carbonates  and  oxides  that 
are  frequently  very  rich.  There  is  no  zone  of  secondary 
enrichment,  and  below  the  depth  of  30  feet  the  unaltered  sul- 
phides extend  downward  practically  unchanged  in  character 
and  average  copper  content  to  the  greatest  depths  yet  reached. 

Three  ore  bodies  have  as  yet  been  opened  and  worked. 
Two  of  these  outcrop  in  the  Union  and  one  near  the  south  end 
of  the  Keystone.  These  ore  shoots  dip  eastward  with  the  vein 
and  also  longitudinally  to  the  north.  The  largest  one  is  the 
southernmost  one,  in  the  Union  claim,  and  is  about  300  feet 
long,  from  2  to  40  feet  wide,  and  has  been  followed  to  a  depth 
of  600  feet,  where  it  reaches  the  northern  vertical  l)oundary  of 
the  Union  claim.  One  stope  in  this  body,  from  which  ore  was 
extracted  in  the  decade  of  the  sixties,  was  about  40  feet  wide. 
80  feet  high,  and  100  feet  long.  The  next  shoot  to  the  north 
in  the  Union  claim  is  200  feet  long,  is  of  less  average  width, 
and  reaches  well  into  the  Keystone  property,  where  it  has 
been  worked  to  the  same  depth  as  the  larger  ore  body.  The 
developed  Keystone  ore  body  is  100  feet  long,  from  1  to  15  feet 
wide,  and  is  exactly  similar  to  the  others  in  character.  It  has 
been  worked  to  a  depth  of  250  feet.  The  underground  open- 
ings of  the  T^nion  and  Keystone  claims,  consisting  of  several 
thousand  feet  of  drifts,  .shafts,  and  stopes,  are  connected.  Nine 
levels  have  been  run  in  the  mine  and  six  shafts  have  been  sunk 
to  varying  depths  on  ])oth  properties. 

The  question  of  the  permanence  .of  values  at  depth  in 
this  foothill  mineral  belt  is.  in  a  way.  (|uite  as  interest- 
ing and  important  as  the  same  question  in  regard  to  the 
parallel  ]\Iother  Lode.  Within  recent  years  this  question  has 
been  affirmatively  decided  along  the  IMother  Lode,  especially 
in  the  neighboring  county  of  Amador,  and  at  the  Gwin  mine, 
in  Calaveras  County,  where  extensive  and  valuable  ore  bodies 
are  being  mined  at  a  present  depth  of  about  2000  feet.  This 
problem  gives  significance  to  the  persistent  characteristics  of 
the  ore  shoots  at  CopperojKtlis  and  to  the  geological  identity 
of  the  veins  and  inclosing  formations  of  both  lodes. 

AVithin  the  limits  of  the  Union  and  Keystone  claims,  and 
outside  of  them  along  the  lode  through  this  company's  prop- 
erty, superficial  prospecting  has  revealed  the  buried  outcrops 
of  a   nnniber   of   other  bodies,    all   of   wliich   are   remarkable 


CALAVERAS  COUNTY — COPPER  CLAIMS,  235 

ill  tlioir  similarity  to  the  throo  developed  ore  bodies  at  the 
surface.  The  prospecting'  and  developing  of  such  new  ore 
bodies  await  the  future. 

The  Union  ore  bodies  are,  as  indicated,  practically  solid 
masses  of  sulphides,  carry  no  gold  or  silver,  and  are  excep- 
tionally free  from  ])aser  metallic  elements.  These  ores  thus 
differ  from  thase  of  the  Napoleon-Campo  Seco  lode  to  the  west, 
which  carry  gold,  silver,  and  l)aser  elements.  It  is  stated  that 
the  copper  ju'odiict  of  this  mine  has  generally  been  used  for 
the  manufacture  of  copjier  wire  without  electrolytic  refining. 

The  product  has  been  two  grades  of  ore — one  a  smelling 
ore  averaging  11  ])er  cent  of  copper,  and  the  other  a  leaching 
ore  averaging  T)  to  .l'^^  per  cent.  Tlie  mining  operations  liave 
yielded  about  two  tons  of  the  latter  to  one  of  the  former, 
t»ut  the  low-grade  leaching  ore  has  l)een  largely  taken  from 
the  radiating  stringers. 

'I'lir  surface  plants,  erected  years  ago,  are  extensive  and 
inchule  a  large  leaching  })lant,  necessary  buildings,  hoist, 
pumping  j)laiit.  etc.  Tlit>  mine  yields  a  maximum  of  80,000 
gallons  of  water  per  twenty-four  hours.  Steam  power  is  used, 
wood  co.sting  from  $3.50  to  $4  per  cord.  Water  is  pumped 
from  a  creek  half  a  mile  distant.  Timl)ers  and  lumber  are 
supplied  from  Stockton  and  the  mountains  to  the  east.  The 
I'nioii  Electric  Light  and  Power  Company,  which  is  under 
the  same  control  as  the  mine,  owns  1200  acres  of  land,  largely 
irold  i>lacer  ground,  on  the  Stanislaus  River  at  the  southern 
boundary  of  the  county,  and  there  are  several  miles  of  water 
ditch.  This  property  was  secured  to  provide  a  supply  of 
water  and  power  for  the  mine  and  town. 

The  company  has  added  to  its  holdings  by  purchasing 
adjoining  property,  and  now  owns  besides  the  P^mpire,  Union, 
and  Keystone  claims,  over  1500  acres  of  patented  ground. 

Important  improvements  have  been  made  on  top,  and  the 
geological  and  mineralogical  conditions  of  the  mine  have  been 
carefully  studied  by  John  A.  Reid,  who  has  published  the 
results  of  his  investigations  in  a  monograph  entitled  "The 
Ore  Deposits  of  Copperopolis,  Calaveras  County,  California." 
which  gives  a  minute  description  of  the  ore  deposits  and  the 
formation  in  which  they  occur.  According  to  this  author  the 
amphibolite  schists   in   which   the   copper   mines   of   Amador 


236  THE  COPPER  RESOURCES  OP  CALIFORNIA. 

County  and  in  the  northern  part  of  Calaveras  County  are  sit- 
uated do  not  enter  this  section,  but  come  to  an  end  about  two 
mih's  north  of  Copperopolis.  The  hills  Hankinji;  tlie  narrow 
valley  in  which  the  camp  is  located  on  the  east  and  west,  ar<' 
formed  by  meta-andesite  (augite  porphyry)  intercalat(Hl  with 
beds  of  chlorite  schists.  The  vein  which  occupies  nearly  the 
center  of  the  valley,  lies  in  a  narrow  strij)  of  Mariposa  slates 
which  f>radually  merjies  into  the  schists  on  both  sides.  The 
ore-bearing  formation  is  chlorite  schist  about  100  feet  wide. 
with  scarcely  any  other  gangue  rock  minerals.  Tlie  liaiii:iii<: 
wall  is  formed  by  slate  throughout,  l)ut  the  foot  wall  is  fonucd 
in  })laces  by  a  thin  layer  of  serpentine,  separated  from  tiie  ore 
l)y  a  band  of  talc.  Of  the  two  principal  ore  bodies.  No.  1  lies 
east  on  the  hanging  wall,  No.  2  west  on  the  foot  Avail  and  north 
of  it,  extending  into  the  Keystone.  In  the  lowest  levels,  at  a 
depth  of  600  feet,  they  show  no  change  in  the  character  of  the 
ore  and  size,  the  width  varying  from  'M)  to  50  feet  and  over. 
Lately  only  the  main  Tnion  sliaft  on  the  east  slioot  was  used 
for  hoisting,  but  the  Keystoiu^  shaft  on  the  west  shoot,  400 
feet  deep,  was  being  put  in  sluipe.  It  is  cfjuipped  Avitli  a 
steam  hoist  and  a  steel  gallows  frame,  fitted  with  iron  ore  l)ins. 
There  are  two  levels  in  this  shaft,  from  Avliieli  it  is  staled 
good  ore  has  been  taken.  Eight  levels  have  l)een  run  from 
the  main  shaft,  and  from  the  six  lower  levels  crosscuts  exteiul 
through  the  west  vein  to  the  foot  wall.  Two  winzes  have  l)een 
s]mk  in  the  bottom  of  the  lowest  level,  one  near  the  main  shaft. 
25  feet  deep,  and  one  in  the  west  ore  shoot  80  feet  deep,  with 
a  drift  in  the  l)ottoiii.  both  showing  the  ore  body  undiminished 
in  size  and  the  ore  improved  in  grade.  A  drift  from  tlie 
seventh  level  connects  with  the  Keystone  shaft. 

The  following  analysis  of  the  lower  grade,  or  concentrating 
ore,  is  given  in  Mr.  Reid's  assay: 

SiO.    1M.14 

AlA     14.1(t 

FeO    i:J.!tl 

Fe,03    11..")! 

Cab    <••!) 

McO    S..-0 

K2( )    Trace 

"SluO    Traco 

I'D,    Trace 

II.O     <i.IK) 

CuFS,    11.12 

90.97 


CALAVERAS   COUNTY — COPPKK    ("I, A I  MS.  237 

'I'lic  rf(lii('li(»ii  phiiil  is  lofatccl  about  half  a  mile  south  of  the 
main  shaft,  down  tlic  valley,  where  it  has  eonti'aeted  to  a 
narrow  irnU-h.  and  consist.s  of  a  smeltei-  and  coneentratin»r  mill, 
besides  tlic  did  phmt  for  JencliinL:.  which  is  still  ('mi)lo\-ed  on  a 
limited  seale.  The  smelter  occupies  the  western  slope  of  the 
valley  antl  has  a  tJU-ton  i-everberatory  furnace,  with  room  for 
the  erection  of  a  .second  one.  An  electric  railway  on  top  of  the 
rid«re  connects  with  the  smelter  and  carries  the  ore  to  a  build- 
ing' containiuir  a  stone  breaker  and  sampliui:'  room,  from  which 
it  is  delivered  into  the  ore  bins  below,  and  discharged  into  cars 
runninjtr  on  a  level  with  the  feed  floor.     All  these  buildings  are 


«'C 


UNION    COPPER    MINE.    COPPEROPOLIS. 

constructed  of  iron  and  are  fireproof.  The  product  is  a  high- 
irrade  matte  shipped  to  eastern  refineries.  The  eoncentratin^f 
mill  is  situated  opposite  the  smelter  on  the  eastern  slope  of  the 
,i.'ulch.  It  has  five  floors,  arranged  in  terraces,  with  a  vertical 
elevation  of  105  feet.  It  is  connected,  the  same  as  the  smelter, 
with  the  two  shafts  1»\  an  electric  railway,  which  r\nis  on  a 
high  trestle  nearly  the  entire  distance.  The  ore  is  delivered 
into  bins,  from  wliich  it  is  transferred  by  a  belt  conveyor  to  a 
rock  crusher  on  the  fifth  floor,  and  thence  it  passes  through  a 
.set  of  four  sizing  drums  to  ten  jigs  for  medium  and  one  for 
coarse  size  on  the  fourth  floor,  where  are  also  two  .sets  of 
Cornish  rolls.  On  the  third  floor  are  two  Huntington  mills 
and  Cornish  rolls,  and  on  the  second  ten  jigs  for  a  finer  grade. 
Finally,  there  are  two  Wilfley,  two  Standard,  and  two  Frue 


238  THE  COPPER  RESOURCES  OF  CALIFORNIA. 

Vauner  tables  on  the  ground  floor,  and  l)elt  elevators  to  carry 
the  ore  to  the  upper  Hoors.  The  motive  power  is  electricity 
and,  the  capacity  of  the  mill  will  be  250  to  300  tons  per  day. 

Two  thousand  feet  north  of  the  Keystone  shaft  are  some  old 
workings,  which  nnist  have  been  somewhat  extensive,  judging 
from  the  size  of  the  dump,  and  which,  it  is  said,  have  produced 
some  of  the  richest  ore  shipped  from  the  mines.  Excepting 
these,  and  the  drifts  in  the  Keystone  shaft,  the  ground  between 
them  has  remained  unexplored. 

Among  other  surface  improvements  may  be  mentioned  five 
traction  engines,  which  are  used  for  hauling  supplies,  etc..  from 
Milton.    G.  A.  Clothier  has  charge  of  the  property. 

Penn  Chemical  Works. — The  property  of  this  company  con- 
sists essentially  of  the  Ilekla,  Campo  Seco  and  Satellite,  which 
were  operated  as  separate  mines  in  former  years,  to  which  the 
little  Satellite  and  .some  other  claims  have  been  added.  The  first 
three  mentio'ned  were  producing  mines  in  the  early  sixties  and 
were  important  ones  in  those  days.  They  are  close  to  the 
town  of  Campo  Seco,  by  IMokelumne  River,  about  twenty  miles 
northwest  of  Copperopolis,  and  on  the  western  lode  of  Cala- 
veras County.  Valley  Springs,  the  terminus  of  a  narrow- 
gauge  railroad,  is  four  and  a  half  miles  distant.  In  early  days 
many  thousand  tons  of  ore  were  mined.  The  richest  was 
shipped  in  considerable  quantity,  and  large  amounts  of  medium 
and  low-grade  ores  on  three  dumps  have  been  leached  inter- 
mittently to  the  present  day.  ^ome  matte  was  produced  from 
small  furnaces  before  the  plant  now  operating  was  installed. 
The  veins  here  course  and  dip  as  at  Copperopolis.  The  vein 
matter  varies  in  character,  the  gangue  being  variously  com])osed 
of  talcose  schist,  clay,  quartz,  etc.  The  ores  are  sulphides, 
associated  with  iron  pyrites,  and  carrying  small  percentages 
of  gold  and  silver,  with  occasional  traces  of  zinc.  This  group 
of  claims  has  been  opened  by  five  sluifts  and  some  tunnels. 
The  deepest  development  lias  occurred  in  tlie  TTelda  and 
Satellite.  Avhich  at  an  early  ])eriod  were  opened  to  depths 
of  about  nOO  feet.  The  Campo  Seco  shaft  reached  250  feet, 
and  its  lowest  level  was  at  200  feet.  One  ore  body 
in  the  Hekla  mine  was  150  ,  feet  long,  and  the  group  as 
a    whole    has    vielded    largelv.      The    Satellite    has    under- 


CALAVERAS    COUNTY COIM'KR    CLAIMS. 


239 


«,'()m'  tlic  most  cxtcMsivc  (Icvrloiniinil.  'I'lir  sliaft  is  .).)() 
foot  deep  iiinl  I'tMii-  levels  have  lieeii  opened,  frniii  which  (tre 
is  now  l)eiiii:  mined.  'I'his  mine  was  well  kiidwii  as  the 
Laiiehn  riaiui  before  1888.  when  i1  was  reopened  In  II.  D. 
Kanlett  after  lon^'  idleness.  A  liiniiel  was  i-nii  to  tlie 
old  shaft,  about  1000  tons  of  ore  shii)i)ed,  and  leaehinti" 
eontinued  for  about  three  years,  ft  ^vas  then  sold  to  the 
San  Frnneisco  Copper  Company,  aiul   latei-  mer<:ed  with  the 


PIONN  COl'l'iCR  MINING  COMl'ANVS  MINK.  AT  (JA.MI'O   SKCO. 

Penn  Chemieal  Works  property.  ^Mining  and  prospecting  are 
actively  ])roeeedinp:.  The  pyritie  method  of  smelting  is 
pursued.  The  material  is  run  through  the  furnace  three 
times,  producing  matte  respectively  of  20.  4-0.  and  (iO  per  cent. 
Another  feature  of  the  plant  is  a  small  furnace  used  to 
agglomerate  and  partially  desulphurize  the  fines.  A.  C. 
Harmon,  Campo  Seeo,  is  general  manager. 

This  property,  at  present  the  most  important  producer  .south 
of  Shasta  County,  is  situated  in  section  :U.  township  •'>  north. 
range  10  east,  sections  4  and  '^.  township  4  north,  range  10 


240 


THE  COPPER  RESOURCES  OF  CALIFORNIA. 


east.  SuhsLHiuent  developments  have  sliown  that  tlie  vein 
splits  north  of  the  Campo  Seeo  shaft  into  an  east  and  west 
braneh  whieh  continue  parallel  in  a  southerly  direction,  not 
far  apart,  and  can  be  traced  l)y  tlieir  outcrops  for  a  long 
distance.  The  point  where  the  west  vein  begins  is  not  known, 
but  it  must  be  somewhere  between  the  INIokelumne  River  and 
the  shaft,  because  it  can  l)e  plainly  seen  west  of  it,  and  in  the 
river  bed,  which  cuts  deeply  througli  the  hills  and  exposes  the 
formation,  onlv  one  vein  can  l)e  found  ci-ossing  it.     The  liills 


SMELTING   WORKS   OF   THE   PENN    MINING   COMPANY,    AT 

CAMPO   SECO. 

througli  which  the  east  vein  passes  are  capped  by  heavy 
deposits  of  auriferous  river  gravel  which  has  been  extensively 
washed  and  exposes  in  many  places  the  heavy  gossan  on  the 
apex  of  the  vein,  making  it  easy  to  follow  its  course.  Of  the 
five  shafts  on  the  property,  three  are  located  on  the  eastern 
vein,  on  the  Campo  Seco  and  Hekla  claims,  and  two  on  the 
western  vein,  on  the  Satellite  claim,  farther  south.  Two 
shafts,  one  on  each  branch,  serve  for  hoisting  purposes. 
Beginning  at  tlie  southern  end.  shaft  No.  1  is  400  feet  in 
depth,  it  serves  for  ventilation;  No.   2  is  750  feet  and  the 


CALAVERAS   COUNTY COPPER    CLAI.M.S. 


liU 


deepest  sluift  in  (•anip.  Il  is  e<iuii)[)ecl  with  a  steam  hoist 
and  roiniectetl  with  No.  1.  Al)out  1;^()0  feet  distant,  on  the 
east  vein,  is  shaft  No.  ^.  fiirnishid  with  steam  hoist  and  550 
feet  deep.  Every  hundred  feet  drifts  are  run  in  both  direc- 
tions, and  from  the  4(lU-foot  h'vel  a  drift  f.xtcnds  north  2500 
feet,  within  a  lew  hundrt'd  feet  from  the  end  line  of  the 
Ilekhi  elaim.  where  the  vein  eresses  the  river.  No.  4  shaft 
is  400  feet  deep  and  serves  as  air  shaft  and  mau-wa.\'.  No.  5 
shaft    (in    the    IleUla    is   saiil    In    lie    .')(l(l    feet   deep,    jitid    w  lien 


PEXX     rUKMICAL     COMPANY'S     SMKI.TKR     AND     ROASTRRS, 
CALA\'KRAS    COVSTY. 


finished  will  eonneet  A\illi  the  lon^'  di'ift  of  No.  '.].  The 
vein  lies  between  amphibolite  schists  (often  called  greenstone 
or  diorite)  and  talcose  shales,  which.  how(^vei'.  do  not  contain 
niaunesia.  bnt  ovei*  !)<)  per  ct-nt  silica,  and  furnish  excellent 
material  for  furnace  lining.  In  the  upper  portions  of  the 
vein  some  oxides,  copper  ^'lance  and  native  (()]>per  have  Ici n 
found.  In  the  deeper  parts  of  the  mine,  the  i)rincipal  ore  is 
chalcopyrite  with  iron  i>yrit(^s.  with  occasionally  some  cop])er 
glance,  bornite  and  (ovellite.  It  is  reported  that  the  ore 
bodies  attain  a  thickness  of  30  feet   in   places  and  contain   7 

in— BiL.  50 


242  THE  COPPER  RESOURCES  OF  CAMFOKXIA. 

to  11  per  cent  copper,  $3  to  $4.50  gold  and  $5  to  $6  in  silver. 
Most  of  the  ore  carries  a  little  zinc,  and  some  of  it  a  rather 
high  percentage.  The  reduction  plant  is  ((iiiiposed  of  a  water- 
jacket  blast  furnace  36  hy  72  inches,  of  100  tons  capacity 
(about  80  tons  net  ore)  ;  two  reverberatory  furnaces  of  50  and 
100  tons  and  ciLiht  ]\lcDougall  roasting  furnaces  of  16  tons 
each,  the  entire  smelting  capacity  being  about  230  tons.  The 
walls  of  the  reverberatory  furnaces  arc  lined  with  chrome-iron, 
cemented  with  a  mortar  made  of  gi-ound  (juart/C,  and  tiie 
talcose  shales  mentioned  alxjvc.  A  liigii-gi'ade  matte  of  60 
per  cent  and  over  is  the  final  product  of  the  smelting  opera- 
tions. Crude  oil  is  Tised  as  fuel  for  the  boilers,  the  reverbera- 
tory furnaces  and  the  locomotives  which  haul  the  ore  from  the 
mines  to  the  smelter.  Electricity  generated  on  the  ground, 
is  used  I'or  lighting  and  also  for  motive  power;  electric  loco- 
motives are  employed  in  the  yard  for  hauling  slag  pots,  etc. 
Between  150  and  200  men  are  employed  on  the  premises. 

Tlic  company  has  .secured  tlic  Thayer  claim,  and  consider- 
able ground  ])esides  on  the  northern  extension  of  the  vein, 
across  tlie  ^lokelumne  Eiver.  in  Amador  County. 

The  Constitution  Mine. — South  of  the  property  of  the  Penn 
Chemical  Comi)auy  are  three  claims  belonging  to  C.  Borger, 
of  Campo  Seco,  two  of  which,  the  Meteor  and  the  Constitution, 
are  located  on  the  southern  extension  of  the  east  vein  ;  the  third, 
the  West  Constitution,  forming  a  continuation  of  the  Satellite 
claim.  A  shaft  has  been  suidv  on  the  Constitution  to  a  depth 
of  400  feet,  and  some  good  ore  has  been  found  scattered 
tlirough  the  vein.  A  shaft  was  started  in  the  gossan  a  short 
distance  south  of  the  main  shaft,  and  a  streak  of  ore  was 
discovered  which  incrcasi'd  at  45  feet  to  a  body  of  good  ore 
4  feet  wide.  The  ore  is  tlu'  same  as  in  the  Penn  Chemical 
Companj^'s  property,  and  assays  of  15  per  cent  copper,  witli 
some  values  in  gold  and  silver,  are  reported.  ]\Ir.  Borger 
secured  the  mineral  rights  on  this  vein  for  a  considerable 
distance  iM^yond  his  property. 

Napoleon  Mine. — This,  the  oldest  copper  mine  in  the  State, 
lies  to  the  south  and  west  of  Copperopolis  al)out  nine 
miles,  and  is  in  section  23.  township  1  north,  range  11  east. 


r.M-AVF.KAS    COrXTV — fOIM'KR    CLAIMS. 


243 


It  is  thirteen  ;iii<l  ii  half  miles  ri-diii  Miltdii.  'I'lic  owner  is 
Josephine  II.  Sullivan,  wlm  IhukIimI  the  pi-opciM y  to  Messrs. 
Lewis  and  HiW  Williams,  'rin-  vein  channel  is  100  feet 
\vi<l('.  and  consists  of  dial)as('  and  mcta-diahasc  down  to 
taleose  schist.  The  ore  bodies  occni-  in  Icns-shapcd  masses 
from  sli-in^rers  In  20  feci  in  width.  The  shaft  is  S6 
feet  in  vertical  depth  and  then  inclines  62  degrees  for 
23!)  feet.  uMvinii'  a  total  tleptli  of  32r)  feet.  The  ores  are 
priueii)ally    sidi)hides,    although    carbonates    and    oxides    are 


NAPOLEON  COPPER  .Ml.\i:.  (WL.WERAS  COUNTY. 

ph'ntifnl.  The  mine,  which  was  first  opened  in  the  sixties, 
was  filled  with  water  from  iSlili  to  1!)()(),  when  tlie  Williams 
Hrothers  commenced  oi)erations.  A  new  wi-st  shaft  was  suidc 
to  connect  with  old  workings  on  the  2;')0-foot  h^vel.  Cement 
coppei-  is  ])roduce(l  fi-oui  leaching  the  old  dumps,  and  some 
satisfactory  shipments  of  ore  have  been  made.  The  mine  is 
now  tlie  propei-ty  of  the  Peyton  Chemical  Company.  The 
shaft  has  reached  a  depth  of  430  feet,  and  drifts  200  to  300 
feet  long  have  been  run  in  tlu'  250.  300.  and  400-foot  levels. 
The  ore  is  shijiped  1o  the  Peyton  Chemical  Works. 


244  THE  COPPER  RESOURCES  OF  CALIFORNIA. 

Star  and  Excelsior. — In  sc^ction  24.  township  1  novtli. 
rangv  11  east,  near  the  Napoleon;  opened  hy  cnts,  shafts,  and 
tnnnels.  sliowiiiu'  an  ore  channel  from  75  to  100  feet  in  width. 
Till'  ores  an-  suli)hide  aiul  carbonates.  The  ownci's  are 
Messrs.  Weilie  et  al..  of  San  Francisco. 

Collier  Mine. — In  section  24.  township  1  north,  range  11 
east,  near  the  Napoleon ;  owner,  Henrietta  Botcher,  of  Stock- 
ton. There  is  an  old  caved  sliaft  on  the  {property.  The  vein 
is  reported  to  have  been  rich  in  copper,  which  was  shippetl  in 
the  sixties. 

Eagle  Mine. — In  section  'S.  township  1  noi-th.  range  11 
east,  on  Quail  Hill;  owner.  J.  M.  ^McDonald,  of  San  Fi-ancisco. 
Contains  sulphide  and   carbonate  cop])er  ores. 

Near  ]\Iilton  are  some  prospects  showing  cojiper,  but  Ihey 
are  not  developed  enough  to  demand  specitic  mention. 

Josephine  Mine. — In  section  8,  township  1  north,  range  l;-5 
east;  known  also  as  the  Okl  ^Mountain  Top  mine.  It  has  a 
shaft  40  feet  deep,  sunk  in  1S64.  The  vein  is  4  to  5  feet  wide. 
A  little  ore  remains  on  the  dump  and  in  the  shaft.  Shipments 
were  made  from  this  claim  in  1864. 

Through  the  Pattee  ranch,  adjoining  the  town  ol  X'alley 
Springs  on  the  east,  extends  a  belt  of  copper-bearing  rock 
1000  feet  wide,  witli  a  strike  west  of  north.  The  ranch  con- 
tains 784  acres.  On  this  belt  there  are  shafts  and  oi)en  cuts. 
The  deepest  shaft  is  80  feet,  and  shows  copper  ore.  The  vein 
matter  here  is  amphibolite  schist  and  schistose  diabase. 

The  De  INlartiiii  r;inch  is  Ihe  second  ranch  below  the  Pattee 
ranch.  Two  creeks  cut  through  the  belt  nn  this  i-anch  and 
reveal  copper  ore. 

On  the  jNIissengei'  ranch,  about  two  and  a  half  miles  noi'th 
of  Valley  Springs,  is  a  shaft  about  400  feet  deep  in  the  old  "4!> 
mine.  There  is  also  a  large  dump  of  oxidized  and  suli)hide 
ore.  About  two  and  a  lialf  miles  farther  north,  near  the 
IMokelunuie  Rivei-.  is  another  shaft  called  the  "Salt  Gulch." 

Jackson  McCarty  Mine. — Known  al.so  as  the  old  Calaveras 
mine;  about  three  miles  north  of  (^ipperopolis.  in  section  23. 
township  1  north,  range  12  east.     It  has  a  shaft  250  feet  deep. 


lALAVKRAS    COlNTV 


-(•(H'l'KU   CLAIMS.  24;> 


Caledonian  Mine.— (Mi  tlir  mad  fn. ni  Vall.'v  Spi-inf,'s  to 
(;asl(Mrs  ran.-li:  has  a  sliafl   L'.')!!  f.vt   .Iccp.  sunk   in  llir  sixties. 

The  Pool  Mine.— This  pn.pri-ty  was  turned  over  1(.  ihe 
Nassau  CopixT  C.Mnpany.  whi.-li  put  u].  a  strani  lioist  aiul 
sunk  the  shaft  to  :5<><>  fret,  witli  srvn-al  hundred  feet  of 
drifts.  .Me.,  and  is  reported  as  having  taken  out  $7(),00(> 
of  ore.  Th»'  water  taken  frein  the  mine  is  run  into  pre- 
eipitatini:  tanks.  The  vein  varies  from  15  to  ::<>  feel;  tlie 
ore  differs  from  the  ore  of  the  I'nion  mine.  earryin<--  more 
(piartz.  jrroater  values  in  izohl  an<l  silver,  and  some  zinc.  An 
average  samph'  tak.ii  across  the  vein,  20  feet  wide,  is  reported 
to  he  composed   as  follows: 

Silk-M    1^% 

Iron     -*0% 

.    .    .  '>'><^ 

Sul|iliiir    — '" 

Zinc    ^;:% 

Copper     '% 

(Jol.l      ^'^"-• 

Silver     '"'•'^• 

President.    1.  E.  Porter.  No.   1155  Castro  street.  Oakland, 

California. 

On  the  road  to  Aiik'eLs  Camp,  three  miles  north  of  Copper- 
opolis,  in  section  2.  township  2  n<u-th.  raiifiv  12  east,  a 
prospect  is  developed  l).v  (i.  A.  Olothier  and  D.  H.  Cameron, 
of  Copperopolis.  The  shaft  is  8;")  feet  deep  and  shows  an 
18-inch  streak  of  solid  ore  of  srood  f?rade.  similar  to  the  ore  of 
the  Pool  claim. 

East  of  the  ^NFother  Lode  there  are  fonnd  occasionally  (piartz 
vi'ins  can-yiuL:-  cojiper  in  considerahle  (piantities.  notably  on 
San  Domintro  Creek,  near  Macaroni  Flat,  where  there  is  an 
old  shafl  and  a  lar-v  dump,  which  sliow  consideral)le  copper 
ore  and  some  native  copper. 


246  THE  COPPER  RESOURCES  OF  CALIFOKXIA. 

ALPINE  COUNTY. 


Some  of  the  occasional  occurrences  of  copper  along  the 
higlicr  portion  of  the  Sierra  Nevada  range  arc  to  l)e  noted  in 
Alpine,  a  small  elevated  county  which  straddles  the  crest  of 
the  range  and  lies  east  of  El  Dorado,  Amador,  and  Calaveras 
counties,  and  west  of  INIono  County  and  the  State  of  Nevada. 
It  is  remote  from  railroads,  and  its  small  population  devotes 
its  energies  mainly  to  mining,  stock-raising,  and  lumbering. 
Gold  and  silver-])earing  lodes  are  abundant,  but  the  ores  are 
largely  base  and  the  mining  industry  is  in  a  l>ackward  state. 
Quite  a  number  of  important  mines  have  been  developed  and 
operated,  however.  This  remote  region  has  frequently,  but 
erroneously,  been  given  the  honor  of  possessing  the  first  copper 
deposit  discovered  and  opened  in  the  State.  This  deposit  was 
found  in  Hope  Valley  in  1855  by  "Uncle  Billy"  Rogers.  The 
ore  occurred  in  the  form  of  a  "chimney,"  presented  a  beauti- 
ful appearance,  was  I'ich  in  garnets,  and  attracted  considerable 
attention  for  a  brief  time.  Other  deposits  of  better  com- 
mercial value  were  later  discovered  and  opened.  Two  Imve 
been  noted. 

Leviathan  Mine. — Owned  by  T).  Bari.  of  Silver  Creek, 
California.  The  mine  is  located  ten  miles  east  of  ]\Iarkleeville. 
The  nearest  ])oint  to  a  railroad  is  Carson  City,  fortv  miles 
distant.  There  is  a  400-foot  tunnel  tapping  the  ledge  250  feet 
below  the  outcrop :  200  feet  below  this  tunnel  another  tunnel 
is  in  700  feet.  Both  tunnels  are  connected  by  a  winze.  The 
ore  occurs  in  kidneys  in  porphyry.  About  300  tons  of  ore 
have  ])eon  sliipped  to  a  smelter. 

Stella  Mine. — Located  two  and  a  half  miles  southwest  of 
the  Leviatlum,  and  is  owned  by  an  Englisli  company.  The 
mine  has  been  operated  for  silver  and  copper.  There  is  a  300- 
foot  shaft  and  hoisting  apparatus.     Water  power  is  availal)le. 

TJie  ^Morning  Star  mine,  an  old  mine  in  the  ]Mogul  district 
north  of  IMarkleeville.  has  been  again  productive.  It  is 
operated  as  a  gold  and  silver  property,  luit  the  ore  carries  a 
good  deal  of  copper.  One  lot  of  22  tons  mined  in  1901  is 
reported  to  have  yielded  17  per  cent  of  copper,  nnd  $32  in  gold 
and  40  ounces  of  silver  per  ton. 


TUOLUMNE  COUNTY,  247 


TUOLUMNE  COUNTY. 


Another  of  tli."  ^'reat  gold-mining;  counties  of  the  slope 
iTossed  l.\  llic  foothill  eopper  helt  is  Tuoluninc.  a  lar-e.  irregn- 
larlv  shaped  eounty.  which  stretdies  its  eastern  and  lon-.-st 
hmindary  far  along  the  Sierra  crest,  reaches  westward  down 
the  slopJ  l)etween  torrential  streams,  and  claims  a  small  section 
of  the  foothill  region  with  its  narrow  western  end.  It  is  a  part 
of  the  Wonderland  of  the  general  region  of  the  Yosemite 
Vallev  which  lies  to  the  south,  and  includes  aboiit  half  of  the 
Yosemite  National  Park  and  of  the  Stanislaus  forest  reserve. 
Iletch-IIctchy  Valley  and  some  of  the  higher  peaks  of  the 
ranire  are  amon-  the  varied  features  of  its  scenic  grandeur. 
It  has  a  wealth  of  natural  resources  yet  but  slightly  exploited. 
Agriculture  and  liorticulture  Hourish  more  largely  than  m 
some  neighboring  counties,  and  there  is  an  extensive  lumber 
industry.  Splendid  opportunities  for  the  extensive  generation 
of  electric  power  are  presented. 

:Mining  is  yet  by  far  the  dominant  industry  of  the  ounly. 
Its  i-i.li  early  placers  luive  been  succeeded  by  an  era  of  (luart/. 
minim:,  wiiich  for  some  time  has  been  showing  marked  prog- 
ress. Few  counties  of  the  State  have  recently  attracted  so 
much  mining  capital  to  their  gol«l  mining  fields  or  seen  more 
active  developnuMit  of  successful  or  promising  .piartz  mines. 
The  :^rother  Lode  crosses  its  western  part  and  affords  some  of 
the  b.'st  and  well-known  mines  of  the  State.  The  east  belt. 
paralleling  the  ^lother  Lode,  shows  its  most  valuable  and  most 
extensively  developed  mines  in  Tuolumne  County.  The  base- 
ore  belt  of  the  high  Sierras  is  wholly  undeveloped  h<'re.  as  in 

other  counties. 

The  ccmnty's  mineral  resources  are  widespread  and  various, 
but  irold.  and  a  little  silvei-  mined  with  it.  .v.'t  ,-(mstitutes 
the  princii)al  mineral  product.  The  mitput  in  lOOG  wa.s 
$L080.675  in  gold  and  $8.47()  in  silver.  Besides  the  great 
continuous  lielts  along  which  gold  mining  is  maiidy  concen- 
trated, there  are  districts  containing  many  lidi  pocket  mines. 
One  of  these  mines  has  yielded  .^2.000,000.     The  Sierra  rail- 


248  THE  COl'l'KK  KESOUKCES  OK  CALIKOKXIA. 

way  crosses  the  foothill  and  ^Mother  Lode  belts,  affording 
direet  eomniunieation  witli  the  most  populous  and  productive 
l)ortions  of  the  county. 

Throutrh  the  western  end  of  the  county  the  copper  belt  pre- 
sents two  branches.  It  enters  the  county  from  the  north  closer 
to  the  ^lother  Lode  belt  than  elsewhere,  being  but  two  or  three 
miles  westward.  The  two  divisions  of  the  belt  diverge  some- 
what in  crossing  the  county  southeasterly,  and  both  are  marked 
at  intervals  by  outcrops  of  cupriferous  veins  and  l)y  old  shafts 
of  slialldw  depth,  whicli  mark  the  man\-  pi-ospecting  efforts 
of  former  periods.  A  few  properties  have  shipped  a  little  ore, 
mainly  forty  years  ago.  but  no  mines  of  note  have  yet  been 
developed.  ^lany  of  the  deposits  carry  gold,  and  in  a  few 
gold  aft'ords  the  chief  incentive  to  exploration.  The  western 
])ranch  of  the  belt  is  the  stronger  one.  From  Copperopolis,  in 
Calaveras  County,  it  enters  Tuolumne  County  at  Byrne's 
Ferry,  and  passes  through  the  Don  Pedro  district  to  the  south- 
east. Tlie  eastern  branch  enters  the  county  .just  west  of 
Tuttletown  and  passes  out  at  ^loccasin  Creek  at  the  south. 
The  copper  belt  is  clearly  defined,  exhibits  favorable  indica- 
tions, and.  as  do  other  sections  of  the  belt,  presents  strong 
possibilities  for  the  future. 

On  the  Kohl  ranch,  in  sections  6  and  7.  township  1  north, 
range  14  east,  west  of  the  Rawhide  gold  mine,  and  to  the  west 
of  the  Serpentine,  the  east  branch  of  the  copper  belt  is  traced 
l)y  croppings  and  cuts.  The  vein  matter  here  has  the  appear- 
ance of  a  chloritic  schist. 

On  the  Shell  ranch,  in  section  17.  township  1  north,  range 
14  east,  southwest  of  the  Rawhide  mine,  on  tlie  flank  of 
Table  ^Mountain,  a  copper  deposit  exists.  This  ore  is  rich  in 
gold. 

ill  till-  town  of  Chinese  Camp  is  an  old  shaft  about  100  feet 
deep.  The  dump  shows  good  copper  ore.  This  is  in  section 
ft.  township  1  s(mth.  range  14  east. 

On  the  Olson  ranch,  in  sections  31  and  32.  township  2  south, 
range  14  east,  is  the  old  Golden  City  mine,  which  shows  copper 
ore.     The  mine,  however,  has  been  worked  chiefly  for  its  gold. 

On  the  ^Fackay  ranch,  in  section  28.  township  1  north,  range 
14  east,  is  a  shaft  in  croppinirs  showing  copper  ore.  mainly 
carl)onate. 


Tt  til.r.MNE   COrXTY — COl'PER    CLAIMS.  •J41> 

On  .M.M-.iisiii  Cnvk.  in  s.-.-tions  l!i.  L'O.  2s.  .md  L".!.  ttiwiislup 
1  south.  i-Miii:.'  l."»  cast.  iir«'  copp.-r  troppinirs  and  a  shaft  '22 
feet  deep,  showiiiir  .-lialfopyritc  l-'i-diii  the  Tuolimmc  Hivor 
sroin«;  south  in  this  rauirc  a  deposit  ol"  copj)!'!-  with  lu-avy  iron- 
stono  cap  can  l)c  tniccd  l)v  crop|)iu.irs  for  over  a  mile. 

Alonir  the  west  lode  tlie  foHowiuir  properties  aic  noted: 

Washing-ton  Mine.— In  sections  :?(».  .n.  and  •■V2.  townshi])  2 
south.  I'ani:.-  1.')  rast.  The  owners  are  W.  H.  Ilensley  and 
(1.  A.  Ilensley.  There  foriuerly  was  a  town  of  over  400  people 
sustained  by  thr  mine.  Th<'  town  was  destroyed  l)y  tire:  the 
price  of  copper  depreciated:  the  place  was  deserted.  The 
ores  are  of  a  very  jrood  grradc.  sulphides  pri'douiinating.  The 
vein   fonualinii   is  diabase  and  nieta-diabase. 

On  Donahue's  ranch,  in  section  2'.\.  townsliip  2  south,  range 
1-4  east,  there  is  an  old  tunnel  said  to  be  1000  feet  lon^\  with 
good  eop|)er  HI'.'  on  the  dump.  The  foi'mer  superintendent, 
Mr.  Z.  lirown.  shipped  sonu'  hiuh-.urade  copper  ore. 

In  the  Don  Pedro  district  the  copjier  l)elt  is  ch^arly  traced  in 
its  course  northwesterly.  Prospect  holes  are  found  in  section 
f).  township  A  south,  range  15  east. 

On  the  Hlam-hard  place  is  a  shaft  60  feet  deep,  in  which  is 
exposed  good  chalcopyrites.  At  Montezuma  is  the  Ohio 
House  mine,  showing  good  copper  ore.  On  the  AY.  X.  Adams 
place,  in  section  Ki.  township  'A  south,  range  1.")  east,  are  shafts 
and  o|>eu  cuts,  showing  coppei-  ores,  which  were  opened  in  the 
sixties. 

The  Kohl,  Shell  and  Mackay  Ranch  and  Chinese  Camp.— 
No  further  woi-|<  has  been  dime  nn  these  prospects. 

Dan  Mahon  located  two  (daims.  unpatented,  on  Wood 
Creek,  between  Sonora  and  Chinese  Camp,  section  21.  town- 
ship 1  north,  range  14  east,  on  cojjper  croppings  in  serpentine, 
lying  between  granite  in  the  east  and  granodiorite  in  the  west. 
.\  -JO-foot  shaft  was  sunk  in  the  gossan  on  tlu^  granite  eon- 
tact,  sliowing  some  copper  oxides,  and  an  18-foot  open  cut  a 
little  west  of  it  in  the  serpentine  shows  several  streaks  of  iron 
and  copper  sulphides  reported  to  assay  ')  per  cent  cop]>er  and 
$2.50  in  gold. 

Ad.ioining  the  property  F.  T.  Lillard  located  fonr  claims 
(unpatented  i  on  an  iron  outcrop  showing  copper  oxides,  which 


250  THE  COI'PER  HKSOLRCES  OF  CALIFUKNJA. 

can  he  traced  for  some  distance.  In  a  shallow  shaft  on  Ihe  hill- 
side a  small  amount  of  rich  ore,  consisting  of  copper  glance 
and  oxides,  was  found,  and  a  tunnel  was  started  lower  down 
to  crosscut  Ihf  narrow  vein.  A  small  pocket  of  rich  ore, 
similar  to  that  taken  out  of  the  shaft  was  encountered  and 
the  face  of  the  tunnel,  which  is  in  serpentine,  showed  streaks 
of  iron  oxide.  The  formation  is  serpentine.  The  property 
is  situated  in  sections  18  and  21.  township  1  north,  range 
14  east. 

Oak  Hill  Copper  Mine. — This  property  is  located  on  pat- 
ented jiround.  on  a  large  vein  in  porphyrite,  strike  northwest, 
with  slight  dip  to  southwest.  Gangue  rock  consists  of  clay 
shale,  generally  showing  a  foliated  structure,  but  al«o  forming 
homogeneous  masses  without  any  regular  cleavage.  Iron 
pyrites  and  some  copper  are  disseminated  throughout  this 
entire  mass,  the  presence  of  the  latter  being  proven  by  the 
crystals  of  copper  sulphate  in  all  the  workings,  which  in  places 
occur  in  such  masses  as  to  ])artly  cover  the  walls  of  the  drifts 
and  stopes.  The  eastern  wall  of  the  vein  is  formed  by  a  quartz 
dike  30  to  -iO  feet  wide,  from  which  it  has  been  crosscut  west 
80  feet,  without  reaching  the  western  wall,  so  that  its  width  is 
not  yet  known.  This  quart/,  dike  and  the  adjacent  part  of  the 
vein  crops  out  on  the  surface  and  can  be  traced  over  350  feet. 
l)ut  neither  the  western  part  of  the  vein  nor  its  wall  appear 
on  the  surface,  from  which  its  width  could  be  determined. 
Two  ore  shoots  are  known,  one  close  to  the  eastern  wall,  the 
other  near  the  present  western  lioundary.  varying  in  width 
from  a  few  feet  to  6  feet  and  more,  the  old  workings  near  the 
surface  showing  stopes  30  feet  wide.  From  the  surface  to  a 
depth  of  100  feet,  the  ore  consists  of  oxides,  carrying  a  fair 
percentage  of  gold.  Below  that  level  it  is  mostly  sulphide, 
pyrites  of  iron,  chalcocite  and  perhaps  some  oxide  and  other 
metals,  the  richest  ore  being  black  and  soft.  Chalcopyrite 
seems  to  be  almost  absent  in  the  upper  workings,  but  6  feet  of 
i-  have  been  struck  in  a  drift  on  the  300-foot  level,  after 
passing  througli  75  feet  of  the  black  ore.  When  the  present 
company  took  hold  of  the  property  in  1001.  a  new  shaft  was 
sunk  150  feet  on  the  west  vein,  a  littb^  north  of  the  old 
discovery  shaft,  drifts  run  from  the  bottom  and  the  100-foot 
level,  and  the   ground  between  them  stoped  out.     After  it 


TUOLUMNE    COUNTY COIM'KK    CLAIMS.  -i")! 

had  ht'i'ii  worked  for  two  ycjirs.  and  leased  for  a  short 
time,  it  was  shut  th)\\ii  and  reiiiaiiie(l  idh'  until  work  was 
resumed  uiuler  mauairemeiit  nf  ( '.  !•'.  Stnckinn.  A  drift 
was  run  east  to  the  <|uart/.  and  the  ore  shoot  discovered, 
whieh  was  stojX'd  up  to  the  lOO-foot  h'vel,  the  same  as  the  west 
shoot.  The  shaft  was  sunk  to  '^'^0  feet,  with  800-foot  drifts 
on  the  lOO-foot  level;  4()0-foot  drifts  on  LlO-foot  level;  350- 
foot  drifts  on  300-foot  level:  altojrether  there  are  {)rohal)l\- 
about  2000  feet  of  development  work  in  the  mine.  The  ore 
shipped  duriny:  the  tirst  period  varied,  aceordiiii:  to  report, 
from:  ^'old.  .22,  .71.  and  .<)2  of  an  ounce;  silver.  2.38,  7.11,  and 
6.1  f)  ounces;  co})per.  4.!).  10..').  and  20.!'  ]ier  cent.  The  sliaft 
is  e(|uip|)ed  with  a  irasoline  hoist,  and  the  huildintzs  necessary 
for  the  operation  of  the  mine  are  on  the  tri-ound.  Mana^'er. 
C  F.  Stoekinu'.  La  (!r;iniri'  post  office;  main  ol'ticc.  Santa  Cruz. 

Mitchell  or  Bonne  Terre  Mine. — About  one  mile  west  of 
Oak  Hill  mine,  situated  on  patented  ground.  The  shaft  is  100 
feet  deep,  with  100  feet  drift  on  a  vein  cairyinf;  sulpiiides 
almost  from  the  surface,  besides  fair  values  in  j?old.  but  also 
a  hiirh  percenta<;e  of  /inc.  ()\\nei-,  Locke  Robinson.  .M.E.. 
et  al..  Sonora. 

Washington  Mine. — Only  assessment  work  done  for  some 
years. 

East  of  the  ^lother  Lode,  ill  sections  20  and  21.  township  2 
north,  ran^'e  17  east,  copper  oi-e  in  (|iiai't/.  occurs  in  consider- 
able quantities.  This  deposit  is  similar  to  one  described  as 
the  Robert  mine  in  El  Dorado  County.  The  ore  is  rey:arded 
mostlv  fur  its  irold  value. 


MARIPOSA  COUNTY. 


In  ^lariposa  Count\  the  copper  belt  presents  some  of  the 
extensive  ore  bodies  developed  alonj;  the  belt  outside  of  the 
few  lar^rer  producing;  mines  to  the  north,  and  the  deposits 
here  are  most  noteworthy,  on  account  of  the  large  percentage 
of  gold  frerpiently  carried  by  the  ores.  Some  of  these  ore 
bodies   attracted   attention    during   the   earliest    vears   of   the 


'S-)'J.  11  IK  COPPER  RESOURCES  OK  CALIFORNIA. 

iiulustry.  and  here  were  some  of  the  earliest  iniiiiim'  operations 
aiul  attempts  at  copper  smeltinu'.  Thousands  of  tons  of  ore 
iiave  been  mined  and  shipped,  with  or  without  concentration, 
and  in  the  sixties  the  industry  supported  a  considerable  popu- 
lation. During  a  period  of  copper  activity  several  promising 
properties,  old  and  new.  were  opened  and  actively  developed. 

Mariposa  County  covers  a  large  area  of  the  Sierra  slope  at 
about  the  latitude  of  San  Francisco,  has  an  irregularly  tri- 
angular shape,  and.  unlike  Tuolumne  County  on  its  north, 
has  the  base  of  the  triangle  it  constitutes  in  the  foothills  and 
its  narrow  end  near, the  crest  of  the  range.  It  shares  the 
rugged  topography,  forests,  and  ai)uiid;uit  water  characteristic 
of  the  slope.  The  county  is  chiefly  known  to  the  world  through 
its  possession  of  those  natural  wonders,  the  Yosemite  Valley 
and  the  chief  groves  of  the  kingly  Sequoia  giganica.  or  "Big 
Trees."  A  branch  railroad  reaches  to  Raymond  in  ]\radera 
County  close  to  the  southwestern  boundary.  The  Yosemite 
Valley  Railrdad.  which  extends  from  Merced  up  the  Merced 
River  canyon  lo  El  Portal,  furnishes  li-ansportation  facilities 
nearly  to  Vosciiiilc  A^alley.  It  also  furnishes  facilities  for 
reaching  tin'  nn'ning  disti-iets  on  both  sides  of  the  IMerced 
River. 

AVhilc  the  county  has  various  resources  and  attractions,  it 
is  and  will  remain  chietly  a  mineral  county.  As  such  it  has 
an  important  future.  It  is  full  of  ojiportunities  for  legitimate 
mining  enterprise  backed  with  sufticient  capital.  The  great 
^Mother  Lode  courses  through  the  county  and  finds  its  southern 
termiinis  in  the  southern  ])art  of  this  county,  where  it  loses 
its  identit\-  and  is  succeeded  by  the  irregular  system  of  quartz 
veins  which  continues  far  southward  along  the  slope.  In 
I\Iariposa  County  the  ^Mother  Lode  is  characterized  by  the 
great  width  of  its  quartz  veins  and  ore  bodies.  About  fifteen 
milas  of  the  lode  are  included  in  tlie  ^lariposa  Grant,  an  estate 
of  over  44.000  acres,  owned  by  a  company  that  reopened 
some  old  mines,  one  of  which  yielded  $4,000,000  many 
years  ago.  Another  section  of  the  lode  is  included  in  the 
20.000  acres  held  by  the  Merced  Gold  Mining  Company.  Some 
miles  from  the  ^Mother  Lode  is  the  east  belt,  one  of  whose 
mines  has  produced  $2,500,000.  The  copper  belt  running 
through  the  foothills  courses  for  forty  miles  through  Mariposa 


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YTM-JMUO  ./^-PO'TIPX.M 


GREEN    MOUNTAIN    GROUP    OF    MINING    CLAIMS,    MARIPOSA    COUNTY. 


MARIPOSA    C017NTY.  253 

County,  and  licrc  I  hen-  has  Ix'cn  a  ^M-.-al  dral  of  at-livii y  in  ilir 
opening  of  both  gohl  and  copper  mines.  The  eo])|)(r  |)r()])ei-- 
ties  here  deserihed  ace  mainly  taken  in  suc(Tssi(»n  north\vai-d 
t'l'itm  the  soutli  si(h'  of  the  count  \-. 

Neai'  the  south  lim-  of  .Mariposa  ("ounty,  in  i-aiiLie  IS  cast. 
is  Green  Mountain,  a  considerable  prominence  throuudi  whose 
suuuuit  i)asses  a  vein  of  ironstone  carrying  copper.  This  vein 
is  a  part  of  the  great  California  copper  l)elt.  and  at  this 
locality  has  a  large,  heavy,  bold  cropping  of  gossan,  which  is 
a  hydrated.  siliciou-s  iron  oxide,  the  decomposed  remains  of  a 
solid  iron  sulphide  rock  that  contained  copper.  .Ml  the  copper. 
formerly  doubtless  in  the  condition  of  copix-r  sulphide,  has 
not  leached  out  of  this  gossan  mass.  A  small  amount,  from 
1  to  4  per  cent,  sonu^times  i-emains  on  the  decompo.sed  sui-face 
material,  and  in  sevei'al  inslaiices  has  been  the  means  of  lead- 
ing: to  the  discovery  (d"  the  nuisses  of  richer  copper  oi'e  ]\iim 
below  the  /one  of  decomjjosition. 

Green  Mountain  Mines. — Siiualed  about  six  miles  west  from 
K'a.Muond.  in  sections  :{1  and  ;!l'.  township  7  south,  i-ange  18 
east.  The  owiu'rs  aiv  O.  K.  Sydney  et  al. ;  |)o.st  otfice  address. 
Le  <;ran(le.  The  mines  have  been  worked  at  various  times 
since  lM(i;},  and  have  produced  large  (piautities  of  hiuh-grade 
copper  oxide  and  carbonate  ores.  Thousands  of  feet  of  tuiuiels 
and  drifts  have  been  run  in  development  and  foi-  the  extrac- 
tion of  oi'e.  Tliesi' openings,  as  well  as  1  he  croppings  of  gossan, 
show  the  vein,  or  deposit,  to  be  from  :}()()  to  1200  feet  in  width 
between  the  inclosing  walls  of  granodiorite  on  the  east  and 
dioriti'  on  the  west.  There  is  a  large  number  of  openings  on 
the  property,  the  most  important  of  which  are  two  tunnels 
several  hundred  feet  in  lengtii,  above  which  are  the  stopes  and 
chambers  fi-om  which  the  best  ore  has  been  taken  and  shipi)ed. 
The  lower  or  east  tunnel  is  in  (iOO  feet.  At  al)out  400  fed  it 
has  crosscut  a  vein  HO  feet  in  widt  h.  The  main  body  of  ore  lies 
l)ack  of  this,  the  openings  or  workings  of  which  are  about  60 
feet  above  the  tunnel  level,  to  which  they  are  all  connected  by 
an  upraise.  From  this  upraise,  several  hundred  feet  of  drifts 
and  chambers  are  i-un  in  sul|)hide  ores  of  good  value.  Thus 
far.  no  walls  have  been  found  in  these  workings.  About  900 
feet  west  from  the  above  tunnel,  and  50  feet  al)ove  it.  another 
tunnel  has  been  run  several  hundred  feet,  and  from  it  a  large 


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MARIPOSA  ("orxTY.  2r):j 

l'(»UMtN'.  Jliul  licrc  lIliTr  IlilS  Itccii  ;|   ^^Vi-nl   deal  of  iU'tivily  ill  Ihc 

opening  of  both  goU\  and  copper  iiiiin-s.  The  copper  pro]ter- 
ties  here  described  are  iiiaiidy  tal<eii  in  succession  northwai-d 
from  the  soutli  si(h'  of  the  couiily. 

Near  the  south  line  of  Mariposa  County,  in  laiiue  18  east, 
is  Green  Mountain,  a  consideral)le  prominence  throutrh  whose 
sunnnit  passes  a  vein  of  ironstone  carrying'  eoi)per.  This  vein 
is  a  part  of  the  <,'reat  California  copper  helt.  and  a1  tliis 
locality  has  a  lari^e.  heavy,  liold  croi)pin«r  of  gossan,  which  is 
a  hydrated.  silicious  iron  oxide,  the  decomposed  remains  of  a 
solid  iron  sulphide  rock  that  contained  copper.  All  the  copper, 
formerly  doul)tle.ss  in  the  condition  of  copper  sulphide,  has 
not  leached  out  of  this  gossan  mass.  A  small  amount,  from 
1  ti»  4  per  cent,  scmietimes  remains  on  the  decomposed  surface 
material,  and  in  several  instances  has  l)een  the  means  of  lead- 
ing to  the  discovery  of  the  mas.ses  of  richer  copper  ore  jyinu 
below  the  zone  of  decomposition. 

Green  Mountain  Mines. — Siiualcd  about  six  luiles  west  from 
Raymond,  in  sections  31  and  .'{2.  township  7  south,  range  18 
east.  The  owners  are  O.  T\.  Sydney  et  a!.;  po.st  office  address. 
Le  (Irande.  The  mines  have  been  worked  at  various  times 
since  18(i;i,  and  have  produced  large  <|uantities  of  higli-grade 
co{)per  oxide  and  carbonate  ores.  Thousands  of  feet  of  tunnels 
and  drifts  have  been  run  in  dcvelojuncnt  and  for  the  extrac- 
tion of  ore.  These  openings,  as  well  as  the  croppings  of  gossan, 
show  the  vein,  or  deposit,  to  be  from  ;5(»()  to  1200  feet  in  width 
between  the  inclosing  walls  of  granodiorite  on  tlie  east  and 
diorite  on  the  west.  Tliere  is  a  large  numliei-  of  openings  on 
the  property,  the  most  important  of  which  are  two  tunnels 
several  hundred  feet  in  length,  above  which  are  the  stopes  and 
chambers  from  which  the  best  ore  has  been  taken  and  shipped. 
The  lower  or  east  tunnel  is  in  (iOO  feet.  At  about  400  feet  it 
has  cro.s.scut  a  vein  fiO  feet  in  width.  The  main  body  of  ore  lies 
back  of  this,  the  ()i)enings  or  workings  of  which  are  about  60 
feet  above  the  tunnel  level,  to  which  they  are  all  connected  b.\- 
an  upraise.  From  this  upraise,  .several  hundred  feet  of  drifts 
and  chambers  are  run  in  sulphide  ores  of  good  value.  Thus 
far.  no  walls  have  been  found  in  these  workings.  About  900 
feet  west  from  the  above  tunnel,  and  50  feet  above  it.  another 
tunnel  has  been  run  several  hundred  feet,  and  from  it  a  lar^e 


254  TIfK  COPPER  RESOURCES  OF  CALIFORNIA. 

quantity  of  carbonate  and  sulphide  ores  lias  tx-en  extracted 
and  shippeil. 

Since  Bulletin  No.  2.'i  was  issued  the  main,  or  east,  tunnel 
has  been  continued  in  an  east  and  west  drift.  The  west  drift 
passes  through  125  feet  of  ore,  principally  pyrrhotite,  with 
some  copper  sulphide.  The  east  drift  passes  through  60  feet 
of  similar  ore,  showing  some  tine  chalcopyrite,  and  at  this 
point  an  ui)raise  has  been  made  to  the  first  level,  where  a  large 
body  of  altered  sulphide  has  been  developed  and  also  some 
oxides  of  good  grade.  Overlying  a  portion  of  the  sulphide 
body  is  an  area  of  blue  schist  aliout  60  feet  wide  which  has 
produced  high-grade  oxides  and  some  native  copper  and  copper 
glance.  ]\Iost  of  the  high-grade  ore  shipped  in  the  early  days 
came  from  a  shaft  which  was  subseqnenlly  lost  and  had 
been  searched  for  in  vain,  until  it  was  accidentally  dis- 
covered a  few  years  ago.  A  new  shaft  has  been  sunk  dose 
1(1  i1  aiul  will  be  connected  with  the  tunnel.  The  ores  of  this 
mine,  as  well  as  those  of  the  other  mines  in  this  district,  are 
remarkable  for  being  very  easily  oxidized,  probably  on  account 
of  their  chemical  composition  and  the  loose,  foliated  structure 
of  the  gangue  rock.  Some  of  the  old  workings  are  completely 
coated  with  crystals  of  sulphate  of  copper  and  iron,  and  the 
intensity  with  which  the  process  of  oxidation  is  going  on  is 
proven  by  the  high  temperature  in  some  of  the  stopes.  which 
makes  it  impossible  to  work  in  them  without  ventilation.  This 
kind  of  ore  is  called  "burning  ore,"  and  it  is  claimed  that  it 
sometimes  results  in  spontaneous  ignition. 

The  western  portion  of  this  wide  mineralized  2one  shows 
large  croppings  of  gossan  west  of  the  diorite.  and  oxidized 
ores  have  been  found  in  several  places. 

A  number  of  buildings  have  been  erected  on  the  premises 
to  accommodate  a  large  force. 

HOMESTEAD  LOCATIONS  ON  MINERAL  LAND. 

On  representations  made  by  Mr.  O.  R.  Sydney,  post  office 
Raymond,  INIadera  County,  that  certain  land  has  been  taken  up 
for  alleged  agricultural  purposes  which  had  been  covered  by 
mineral  locations  (copper)  a  long  time  before,  and  on  which 
mines  are  situated  which  have  produced  and  are  still  pro- 
ducing valuable  ore,  the  properties  involved  were  visited  for 
the  purpose  of  ascertaining  the  facts. 


^'  m   it. 


^^ 


GREEN     MOUNTAIN     COPPER    MINE.     MARIPCSA    ('OlWTY. 


DUMP   OF    THE    GREEN    MOUNTAIN    COPPER   MINE,    MARIPOSA 

COUNTY. 


256  THE  COPPER  RESOrRCES  OP  CAIilFORNIA. 

Since  the  discovery  of  the  Green  [Mountain  mine  in  1868,  part 

of  wliicli  uroiiiid  lies  in  section  'A.  township  8  south,  rantre  18 
east,  a  innubcr  of  hoiin'stcad  chiinis  have  hci'u  taken  up  in  the 
same  section.  In  1874  Henry  Prol)asco.  80  acres,  east  No.  5668 ; 
in  1875,  Jacob  P.  Demos.  120  acres,  east  No.  5959;  in  1882, 
Elvina  Bell,  120  acres,  ca-t  Xo.  2458;  in  1905,  Henry  I. 
Leonard.  40  acres,  east  Xo.  7i)!)().  Tills  latter  tract  is  almost 
entirely  located  on  th(^  same  hill  in  which  the  (ireen  Mountain 
mine  is  situated,  and  llie  uioiiiid  it  covers  is  entirely  unfit  for 
culti\atiou.  The  outcrop  of  the  vein  can  be  traced  plainly  into 
this  ground,  on  which  gossan  showing  copper  ore  and  float  can 
lie  found  in  abundance. 

According  to  a  statement  made  by  the  Sin'veyor  (leueral, 
this  section  has  been  returned  as  mineral  land. 

The  land  taken  up  by  Hcjiry  L.  Chapman,  160  acres  in 
section  'M.  townshi])  7  south,  range  18  east,  takes  in  part  of 
the  old  Johnny  Green  mine,  discovered  in  18(i8.  .nid  relo- 
cated by  0.  R.  Sydney  et  a  I.,  who  took  up  the  follow- 
ing mineral  claims:  Red  Star.  Kveuing  Star.  .Xoi-th  Star. 
White  Star.  Star  No.  2.  Polar  Star,  and  Morning  Star.  They 
sunk  the  shaft  on  the  Xorth  Star  claim,  from  90  feet  to  200 
feet,  and  from  a  vein  30  feet  wide  shipped  ore  assaying  17  to 
25  per  cent  copper  and  from  >t^4  to  ^5  gold,  and  with  a  force 
of  6  or  7  men  netted  $1000  per  month  for  quite  awhile.  A 
tunnel  has  been  run  about  500  feet  on  the  east  side  of  the 
mountain,  and  from  the  point  where  it  cuts  the  vein  a  drift 
has  been  run  along  the  latter  for  more  than  20»l  feet.  Near 
the  end  is  a  winze  filled  with  water,  which  is  reported  to  have 
over  5  feet  of  ore  in  the  l)ottom.  The  outcrop  of  the  vein 
can  l)e  traced  aloim'  the  hill  t'oi'  (jiiite  a  distance. 

The  aral)le  land  is  limited  to  a  small.  com])aratively  level 
area,  surrounded  by  hills  on  three  sides,  through  which  passes 
a  large  quartz  vein.  Close  to  the  dwelling  house  are  some  old 
workings,  and  it  is  reported  that  some  rich  ore  was  shippi^d 
from  an  old  shaft  now  tilled  with  water. 

There  are  numerous  and  large  outcrops  of  (piai'tz  on  the 
hills  all  around  this  place,  and  a  short  distance  east  of  the 
Green  mine  tunnel  is  the  old  Toad  mine,  which  is  said  to  have 
produced  some  rich  ore. 

This  part  of  the  county  consists  entirely  of  hills,  which  are 


MAKII'OSA   COINTY — COPPER   CLAIMS.  '_'.)( 

mostly  too  steep  to  be  aclapted  for  ai;rieultin-;il  pui'iioses.  and 
with  the  exception  of  the  small  i)ii'ct'  iicai-  Chapiiiaii 's  house, 
no  cultivated  land  can  be  seen  for  a  lonir  distanct'  in  any 
direetiou. 

Lone  Tree  Mine. — Tiiis  pnipci-iy.  situated  a  shoi-t  distance 
we.st  from  the  Green  .Mountain,  with  the  same  ownership, 
shows  a  well-defined  vein  of  sehistase  rocks,  or  coppery  ^'an<;ue, 
about  iJOO  feet  wide,  from  which  lar.uc  (luantities  of  carljonate 
ores  have  been  extracted  and  shipped.  This  mine  is  opened 
l)y  several  shafts,  varying'  from  25  to  100  fec^t  in  deplh.  all 
.showing  coi)pei-  oi-e  of  £rood  (piality.  The  a\'erage  de])th  below 
croppinirs.  in  l)otli  the  Green  Mountain  and  Lone  Tree  mines, 
to  which  the  <rossan  extends,  is  about  100  feet.  There  are  two 
distinct  veins  within  the  mineralized  zone  between  the  schistose 
walls,  whii-li  have  been  traced  li\'  sluillow  opening-  foi-  tpiite 
a  distance.  The  main  shaft  is  on  the  east  vein  ami  has  reached 
a  depth  of  200  feet,  with  several  drifts  and  stoi)es  on  the  150- 
foot  level,  where  the  oxidized  ore  ehanires  into  sulphides  of 
jjood  srrade.  Owmu*.  O.  T\.  Sydney  et  al.:  ])ost  office  Ray- 
niond.  Ma<lei-a  County. 

Cavan  Miring  and  Milling  Co.— This  company's  property 
lies  in  sections  4  and  5.  township  8  .south.  ranj,'e  18  east,  nine 
and  a  half  miles  from  Raymoiul.  ^ladera  County,  and  com- 
prises 2:^5  acres  of  <j-round.  with  mill  site.  The  head(|uarters 
of  the  company  ai-e  at  Stockton.  The  resident  superinteiulent 
and  vice-president  is  I.  C.  Leomud.  The  development  work  on 
the  property  has  been  to  the  extent  and  on  the  claims  specified 
below.  The  mines  are  all  in  the  copper  belt,  are  easily  acces- 
sible from  the  i-ailway.  and  are  favorably  located  for  econom- 
ical work. 

On  the  Rothchilds  claim  is  a  crosscut  tunnel,  which  is 
expected  to  reach  the  vein  in  this  claim  at  a  depth  of  250  feet, 
and  in  the  Good  View  at  a  depth  of  :575  to  400  feet.  The 
tunnel  was  in  240  foot  when  inspected.  There  is  a  20-foot 
shaft  on  the  south  end  of  the  Good  View.  This  follows  a 
streak  of  ore  6  to  8  inches  in  width,  from  the  top  of  the  shaft 
to  near  the  bottom.  There  is  an  ore  vein  on  the  surface  20 
inches  wide.  The  ore  from  these  streaks  is  said  to  average 
15  to  25  per  cent  copper.  The  .streak  shows  at  intervals  for 
17— BuL.  50 


258  THE  COPPER  RESOURCES  OF  CALIFORNIA. 

over  1400  feet  in  leiigtli.  Tlie  whole  width  ol'  the  two  ehiiiiis, 
viz.,  1200  feet,  exposes  layers  of  (jnartz,  slate,  ironstone,  schist, 
shale,  and  sandstone.  The  main  shaft  was  down  1-40  feet. 
The  vein  exposed  varies  from  6  inches  to  6  feet  in  width,  show- 
inji',  down  to  7.")  Icel,  oxidized  copper  ores,  aziirite.  malachite, 
etc..  l)ut  Ix'low  75  feet  the  ore  is  solid  pyrites  and  chalco- 
pyrites.  Smelter  retui-iis  of  shipments  of  this  ore  show  31  per 
cent  copper.  There  are  two  other  shafts,  down  40  and  54  feet 
each,  showinu'  ore  of  the  same  character  as  in  the  deep  shaft, 
10  to  24  inches  in  width  from  top  to  bottom.  'J'lie  vein  matter 
is  mainly  diabase  or  meta-dialjase,  is  400  to  500  feet  in  width, 
and  is  known  to  be  cTver  10.000  feet  in  length. 

The  Sunset  claim  has  a  shatt  down  58  feet,  showdng  reported 
values  of  17  per  cent  ore  f i-om  10  feet  below  the  surface  to  the 
bottom  of  the  shaft.  The  ore  varies  from  6  to  30  inches  in 
widtli.  There  is  a  schistosfe  (diabase)  foot  wall  and  for  1000 
feet  a  serpentine  hanging  wall.  This  serpentine  at  its  ends 
changes  into  a  brownish  schistose  rock.  The  vein  matter  con- 
sists of  stringers  of  quartz,  schistose,  and  ironstone  rocks,  all 
more  or  less  mineralized.     The  ore  bodies  are  lenticular. 

On  the  CroAATi  Point  and  Little  Giant  surface  work  has 
been  performed. 

On  the  Copper  King  there  are  two  shafts,  one  20  feet  and 
one  50  feet  deep,  both  showing  ore  from  top  to  bottom,  6  to  30 
inches  in  width.     There  is  also  a  crosscut  tunnel  65  feet  long. 

The  San  Jose  has  a  crosscut  tunnel  170  feet  long.  Three 
winzes  from  this  tunnel,  respectively  40,  80,  and  115  feet  deep, 
show  an  ore  shoot  65  feet  long  and  4  feet  wide.  The  115-foot 
winze  shows  good  ore  from  lop  to  bottom.  The  ore  at  tlie 
bottom  is  41/2  feet  wide.  The  hanging  and  toot  walls  appear 
to  be  al)out  700  feet  apart;  for  that  distance  the  same  vein 
formation  of  meta-diabase  (schistose  rock  and  talcose  schist), 
ironstone,  and  quartz  appear,  as  in  other  jilaces. 

The  Stonewall  Jackson  shows  on  the  surface  cro]ipings  of 
quartz  carrying  copper  ore  (chrysocolla)  5  feet  in  width,  and 
a  solid  body  of  decomposed  silicious  iron  from  75  to.  100  feet  in 
width. 

The  Cavan  Mining  and  Milling  Company's  Property. — The 
tunnel  on  the  Rothehilds  claim  is  in  700  feet. 


AT  THE  GREEN  MOUNTAIN  COPPER  MINE,  MARIPOSA  COUNTY. 


APEX  OF  HILL,  LONE  TREE  MINE,  MARIPOSA  COUNTY. 


260  THE  COPPER  RESOURCES  OF  CALIFORNIA. 

The  Mammoth  Group,  adjoining  the  Cavan  property  ou  the 
south,  consists  of  fourteen  chiinis.  owned  bv  O.  R.  Svdnev. 
Within  600  feet  there  are  three  veins,  runninsr  southeast- 
northwest,  with  a  dip  of  70  to  80  decrees.  On  the  east  vein 
there  is  a  shaft  80  feet  deep  with  over  6  feet  of  ore;  on  the 
middle  vein  are  tw^o  shafts  of  20  and  25  feet,  respectively ;  on 
the  west  vein  the  shaft  is  50  feet  and  has  3  feet  of  ore  and 
reported  as  carry inu  ^ood  values  in  gold.  It  is  reported  that 
some  sulphide  ore  of  20  to  22  per  cent  copper  has  been  shipped. 

Great  Northern  Mine. — In  sections  2,  3,  10,  and  11,  town- 
ship 7  south,  range- 17  east ;  owners,  S.  A.  and  C.  R.  Wilcox. 
There  are  three  shafts,  25,  70,  and  110  feet  in  depth.  Cross- 
cuts are  run  from  the  ])()tt(ini  of  the  deepest  shaft  for  about 
40  feet.  The  ore  body  is  from  1  to  8  feet  in  width.  The  vein 
matter  is  of  a  schistose  (meta-diabase)  character.  The  ores 
are  green  carbonates,  yellow  and  black-blue  sulphides.  Wood 
and  water  are  not  plentiful  in  the  immediate  neighborhood. 
A  shipment  of  ore  was  reported  to  have  yielded  15  per  cent 
copper  and  no  gold. 

Pocahontas  Mine. — In  section  l-l.  township  7  south,  range 
17  east ;  owned  l)y  Mrs.  Abbey  Waller.  The  property  consists 
of  160  acres  of  patented  land,  through  which  runs  a  belt  of 
several  seams,  or  veins,  of  iron  ore  carrying  copper.  The 
general  strike  of  these  veins  is  in  a  northeasterly  direction. 
This  belt  of  veins  has  a  granodiorite  east  wall  and  a  diorite 
west  wall,  and  dips  to  the  east.  The  vein  matter  is  mainly 
diabase  and  altered  diabase,  a  hard,  shiny,  bluish-gray  rock 
that  is  frequently  highly  mineralized,  and  with  its  inclosures 
of  pyrites  and  chalcopyrites  constitutes  the  ore  masses  of  these 
copper  mines  in  Mariposa  County.  The  width  of  the  principal 
vein  is  practically  100  feet  between  its  inclosing  walls. 
Between  the  granodiorite  and  diorite  the  distance  in  places 
is  over  1000  feet.  The  deposits  of  metallic  sulphides,  viz., 
iron,  copper,  and  zinc  sulphides,  occur  in  lenses.  One  of  these 
bodies  being  worked  on  the  Pocahontas  is  known  to  be  50  feet 
long,  4  feet  wide,  and  over  100  feet  deep.  It  consists  of  a 
dark-colored  sulphide  ore.  said  to  carry  from  6  to  12  per 
cent  of  copper  and  ii<2.50  in  gold.  Carbonates  of  copper  pre- 
dominate down  to  the  100-foot  level,  where  it  all  changes  into 


MARIPOSA   COUNTY COPPER   CLAIMS. 


•JOl 


sulphides.  Till'  vein  is  traced  through  tlie  wliole  U'UixWi  of  the 
property  and  e.xtends  both  ways  into  other  properties.  There 
are  several  openinizs  on  the  main  vein,  some  of  wliieh  were 
made  in  the  sixties.  The  main  shaft.  tlirou<.di  which  all  the 
development  is  now  bein^  done  and  ore  extracted,  was  over 
100  feet  deep,  with  a  i)romisin>r  body,  in  si/e.  of  the  best 
(piality  ore  discovered  in  the  mine.  This  is  ;i  dark-bine  snl- 
pliide  ore.     (ireen  carbonate  oi-e  has  been  shi]>])ed  that  yielded 


POCAHONTAS   COPPKi:    -Ml.Xi:.    MARIPOSA   COUNT!'. 

35  per  cent  copper.  Other  carload  shijnnents  have  jjiven  30 
per  cent  copper.  There  is  on  the  diiinp  over  350  tons  of  ore 
of  fjood  grade.  The  former  lessees  (Wilcox  Bros.)  within  the 
three  years  shipped  over  $30,000  worth  of  copper  ore.  The 
adjacent  country  consi.sts  of  low  rollin*/  hills  and  grazintr  land, 
is  easy  of  access,  and  is  twenty-four  miles  frt)m  .Merced,  and 
about  fifteen  miles  from  the  Santa  Fe  Railroad. 

These  properties,  the  Great  Northern  and  Pocahontas,  are 
controlled  since  July,  1907,  l)y  the  Pocahontas  Copper  Alining 
Company,  office  Xos.  112  and  114  .AJlarket  street,  San  Francisco. 
Manager,  David  Ross,  Lewis  post  oifice.     A  new  shaft  has 


262  THE  COPPER  RESOURCES  OF  CALIFORNIA. 

been  sunk  on  the  hillside,  and  a  tunnel  has  hecn  started  at 
the  foot  of  the  hill  whieh  is  in  :U{)  i'.'cl.  AIm.uI  200  feet  of 
vertical  depth  -will  be  gained. 

On  the  Pocahontas  the  main  shaft  on  top  of  tlu'  hill  has  been 
sunk  Iroin  120  to  200  feet  and  a  drift  started  to  cut  the  vein, 
whieh  has  dipped  away  from  the  shaft  within  the  last  25  feet. 
There  are  several  old  drifts  above  the  100-foot  level  from 
whicli  oi'e  has  been  stoped  up  to  the  surface,  and  below  that 
level  is  a  25-foot  winze  sunk  into  a  body  of  dark  sulphide  ore, 
wliich  has  been  stoped  f(U'  ab(uit  20  feet  in  one  dii-ection.  At 
the  150-foot  level,  a  drift  runs  80  feet  south  on  the  vein  show- 
ing over  4  feet  of  ore.  chaleopyrite  of  good  grade.  South  of  ihe 
main  shaft  is  an  old  60-foot  shaft.,  connected  at  tlu'  bottom 
with  a  300-foot  tunnel,  starting  at  the  southern  extremity  of 
the  hill.  Some  good  oxidized  ores  have  been  taken  from  shaft 
and  tunnel  and  some  good  sulphides  from  a  winze  in  the  latter. 
Considerable  improvements  have  been  made  on  the  surface. 
A  steam  hoist  has  been  placed  on  the  shaft  and  tlie  necessary 
buildings  for  blacksmith  shop,  assay  office,  lodgings,  office, 
etc.,  have  been  erected.  The  former  owners  under  bond, 
Roberts,  Higgins  &  Co.,  Avorked  the  mine  six  months  and 
shipped  nine  carloads  of  ore. 

A.  C.  Smith  owns  a  copper  mine  about  one  and  a  half  miles 
west  of  the  Pocahontas,  on  patented  land,  in  section  9,  town- 
ship 7  south,  range  17  east,  which  was  discovered  twenty-five 
years  ago.  and  has  been  worked  on  and  off  under  lease.  The 
vein  seems  identical  in  course,  dip,  and  character  of  ore  with 
the  Great  Northern,  of  whicli  it  apparently  forms  the  con- 
tinua'ion.  The  shaft  is  80  feet  deep.  Charles  Hill  shipi)ed  a 
carload  of  ore  reported  to  have  assayed  15  per  cent  copper. 

White  Rock  Copper  King  Mine. — In  section  14.  township  7 
south,  range  17  east.  It  lies  aliout  a  quarter  of  a  mile  west 
of  the  contact  of  the  granodiorite  belt.  The  vein  matter  is 
schistose  diabase,  25  feet  and  upward  in  width.  There  are 
heavy  gossan  croppings.  Cuts,  shafts,  and  openings  in  these 
croppings  show  that  these  decomposed  masses  extend  down- 
ward for  more  than  30  feet.  The  main  shaft  is  over  150  feet 
deep.  This  is  equipped  with  a  whim  hoist.  Develoi)ment  work 
in    this   shaft    was   in    progress.      Below    100   feet    the   ore   is 


WHITE   ROCK,   MARIPOSA   COUNTY. 


WHITE  ROCK  MINE,   MARIPOSA  COUNTY. 


264  THE  COPPER  RESOURCES  OF  CALIFORNLV. 

sulphide.  From  the  shaft  there  are  over  175  feet  of  drifts, 
all  in  ore.  The  vein  channel  is  100  feet  wide,  as  shown  by 
these  drifts.  Several  carloads  of  oxide  and  carbonate  ores 
were  shipped,  which  yielded  35  per  cent  copper.  On  the 
dump  there  are  several  varieties  of  copper  ore,  while  the 
bottom  of  the  shaft  is  in  ^rood  sulphide  ore.  One  carload 
of  ore  was  shipped  that  assayed  over  40  per  cent  copper. 
Thi'  vein  is  traced  southward  to  the  Green  Mountain  mine, 
a  distance  of  over  three  and  a  half  miles,  and  northward 
for  over  half  a  mile.  The  ore  carries  from  $1.50  to  $2.50  in 
gold  and  1  to  31^  ounces  of  silver  per  ton.  About  100  feet 
to  the  east  of  the  main  shaft  is  a  hole  10  feet  wide,  15  feet 
lonjr,  and  40  feet  deep,  all  in  jrossan.  This  eossan  contains 
from  about  4  to  7  per  cent  of  copper.  The  superintendent  of 
the  property  is  Edwin  L.  Foster;  post  office  address,  Lewis. 
The  mine  was  discovered  in  1!)00.  At  this  point  the  copper 
belt  is  known  to  be  over  three  and  a  half  miles  wide.  The 
property  is  about  thirteen  miles  east  of  Le  Grande,  on  the 
Santa  Fe  Railroad,  and  easily  accessil)le.  The  mine,  owned 
by  the  White  Rock  ^Minintr  Conip.iny.  in  .Maine,  has  been  idle 
foi-  the  last  three  years.  Tlie  main  shaft  is  said  to  be  160  feet 
deep. 

Throughout  the  belt  of  country  in  which  are  the  Green 
Mountain,  Pocahontas,  and  AYhite  Rock  mines,  can  be  seen 
on  almost  every  knoll,  for  a  width  of  three  or  four  miles,  very 
heavy  croppings  of  decomposed  ironstone  which  carry  copper. 
All  of  these  have  a  general  northerly  and  southerly  trend. 
This  character  of  formation,  with  slight  modifications,  extends 
ui^  to  and  beyond  Hornitos.  but  is  particularly  noticeable  in 
tlic  White  Rock  section.  Another  feature  of  the  White  Rock 
section  is  the  frequency  of  strong  wliite  quartz  croppings. 
from  the  principal  one  of  which  the  district  derives  its  name. 

Cornett  Copper  Mine. — Tn  section  19,  township  6  south, 
range  17  east ;  II.  \V.  Cornett,  owner.  The  sulphide  ore 
appears  at  the  surface.  The  vein  matter  is  schistose  diabase, 
the  most  mineralized  portion  of  which  forms  a  vein  34  inches 
wide.  The  ^-ranodiorite  belt  is  only  a  short  distance  to  the 
east.  The  ore  is  mainly  sulphide,  and  160  sacks  of  it  shipped 
yielded  17.  22,  and  23  per  cent  of  copper.  $2.26  and  $4.60  in 
gold.     The  deposit  is  about  twenty-one  miles  east  of  ]\Ierced. 


MAKIPOSA   COUNTY COPPER   CLAIMS.  'id") 

(liarlt's  liill  workrd  a  j)r(i|)crly  l)('l(»ii<,nn^  lo  I'r.  I'atf, 
about  five  iiiili-s  west,  on  the  i'dixr  of  the  San  Joa(|uiii   \  alley. 

Yosemite  Copper  Company. — This  coinpany.  ollii-c  7)A  Pm-lcr 
liuildiiiu'.  San  .losi''.  owns  a  lariif  nniulx'i'  of  claims  on  the  road 
fi'oiM  ( "oullci'villc  lo  KaLrl»y.  about  two  and  a  half  miles  from 
the  lattt'i'  plaff.  A  shoit  lunurl  ciin  in  on  licaxy  uossan  sliows 
some  iiravy  suli)liidi'  of  ii'on  with  some  copper  in  it.  and  sonic 
oxidized  ores  are  found  on  the  sui'faee.  .\  tunnel  ha.s  liecn 
.started  some  dislanee  liejow,  which  is  in  300  feet. 

Lone  Tree  Mine. — ()\vned  b\-  II.  W  ("ornctt  -,  is  in  section  2, 
township  7  south,  ranue  Jt)  east.  IIeav_\-  y:ossan  cii»ppiny;s  sliow 
in  several  places  on  the  claim.  The  inclosiuL:  rctcks  are  a  slaty 
•schistose  diabase.  The  de\-ehiiinien1  is  a  shaft  abmit  "JO 
feet  deep.  This  i)roi>erty  is  about  seventeen  miles  east  of 
Mei'ced.     The  ure  cari'ies  a  nood  percenta<ie  of  copjier. 

John  Bias  Mine. — In  sei-ii(ui  12.  township  G  south.  ran<i:e  16 
cixst.  Openeil  by  a  shaft  24  feet  deep.  It  shows  a  minerali/.ed 
vein  3  feet  wide  in  schistose  diabase.  The  vein  sti'ikes  north- 
west, 'i'he  oi'cs  are  red  oxide,  azui'ite.  chry.socolla.  and  clialco- 
pyrite.  The  owners  shi]iped  oi-e  reputed  to  yield  over  .+40 
per  ton  in  copper  and  gold. 

Northward  from  the  Dias  mine,  the  coppei-  Ixlt  is  traced  up 
to  and  beyond  Imlian  (iideli  and  II(irnit<is  li\-  i)rospect  holes, 
cuts,  and  minor  shafts.  It  a|)parently  bears  oft'  a  little  to  the 
east  in  the  same  manner  oliserved  in  places  in  comities  of  the 
State  farther  to  the  north  in  follouiim  the  bends  of  the  grano- 
diorite  lyinjr  to  the  east.  After  i)assin,u:  llornitos.  it  strikes 
throuirh  II miter's  Valley,  Avhere  there  have  been  several  impor- 
tant opeiiiii<,'s  made  and  exttMisive  miniiii;  operations  earried 
on  in  years  ])ast.  especially  in  the  sixties. 

La  Victoria  Mine. — Owned  by  the  C'oppcrlown  ?\linin<;  and 
Smelt im:-  Company,  of  San  Francisco:  in  sections  4.  I),  and  10, 
township  4  .south,  ranjre  16  east.  The  company  owns  7400 
feet  on  the  copper  belt.  The  strike  of  the  vein  is  in  a  north- 
westerly direction.  The  vein  matter  as  ex])lored  by  a  tuiuiel 
is  300  feet  wide;  in  other  places  it  appears  to  be  over  600  feet 
wide.  The  vein  formation  is  schistose  diabase.  The  character 
of  the  ^'ranodiorite  east  wall  here  is  changed,  resembling 
diorite  more  than  granite.    The  ores  are  green  carlionate,  grav 


2GG 


THE  COPPER  RESOURCES  OF  CALIFORNIA. 


copper,  chalcopyrite,  red  oxide,  azurite,  and  the  dark  l)luish 
sulphide.  Heavy  gossan  eappings  cover  all  the  copper  ores. 
There  is  an  old  shaft  said  to  be  200  feet  deep  in  dark-colored 
oxide  ore.  A  tunnel  305  feet  lonjr  diaiionally  crosscuts  the 
vein  formation.  From  this  tunnel  ore  has  been  breasted  out 
1o  a  width  of  over  125  feet.  Besides  the  above  main  shaft  and 
tunnel  there  are  many  open  cuts,  openings.  cro.sscnts,  and 
shafts,  six  of  which  average  75  feet  deep.  A  belt  of  lime.stone 
a  quarter  of  a  mile  wide  runs  parallel  with  the  veins  farther 


^. 


t™  1 


rJW^i'i:-;- 


L.X.    VICTORIA    MIXE,    MARIPOSA    COUNTY. 

to  the  west  and  adjacent  to  the  vein  formation.  Tn  many 
places  the  vein  is  blind,  but  the  iron  cappings.  sometimes 
gossan  and  occasionally  magnetite  or  lilack  ironstone,  are  in 
line,  and  regular  in  their  north  and  south  trend.  All  the  ores 
carry  some  gold,  the  gossan  included.  Tliis  property  was 
owned  by  a  French  company  when  formcrlx-  in  active  opera- 
tion. Three  hundred. men  were  employed  in  the  mines,  and 
a  prosperous  town  of  over  400  population  flourished.  Records 
show  that  over  2000  tons  of  ore  were  shipped  via  Stockton; 
shipping  charges  were  $74   per  ton;   2000  tons  of  ore  were 


MARIPOSA   rorXTV — COI'l'KH   CLAIMS.  _<)/ 

worki'd  oil  lilt'  |,M-(iuiitl  l)y  roasting'  jiihI  Icaehiiiir.  aiid  suinc  by 
snu'ltiiitr;  2<M)  t(»ns  of  nialtc  were  ]»i-(i(liictMl  thai  t-anifd  4ii  to 
()0  pel-  cfiit  of  coppt'i-  and  from  $400  to  $r)Oii  in  linld  in  ilic 
Ion.  'Phis  was  dont'  in  lS(i4  and  iSfi.').  when  coppiT  valiU'S 
were  hi<:li.  The  Fi-ciu-li  company  performed  ('onsideral)le 
development.  The  property  is  a  portion  of  the  hinds  owned 
])y  the  Pidhivineini.  Duh-ieli,  Masehio,  and  Knos  families.  The 
La  Fayette  (daim  is  on  the  south  end  of  the  pr()[)erty. 

Barretta  Mine. — Tn  seetions  30  and  32.  township  3  south, 
raniit'  l(i  ea.sl  ;  .Joseph  Barretta.  owner.  This  claim  was  mined 
in  the  sixties.  There  is  a  shaft  altDUt  200  feet  deep  showiiif^ 
sulphide  copper  ore.  i'ei)orteil  to  he  rich  in  ^uld. 

The  coppei-  helt  i-nns  henee  across  the  ]\Iereed  Kiver.  and 
near  it  appears  to  liranch.  The  west  helt  enters  Tuolnnnie 
County  throuudi  the  locality  of  the  Salamljo  mine,  in  .sections 
30  and  32.  township  2  south,  raiiire  15  east.  The  eastern 
branch  passes  near  Pinon  l^lanco  (IMother  Lode). 

Daniel  Casti^netto  has  a  claim  a  tpuirter  mile  north  of 
Barretta 's.  in  section  30,  township  3  soutli.  ran<i:e  16  east.  It 
shows  stron«r  irossan  croppinus  and  a  vein  20  feet  wide,  com- 
posed of  a  schistose  rock.  The  shaft  is  30  feet  deep,  showing' 
decomposed  red,  l)lue.  and  ^'reen  cojiper  ore,  and  is  reported 
to  assa\-  (i  per  cent   in  copper  and  to  prospect  hi,i:h  in  liold. 

Farrari  Brothers  own  a  (daim  near  ])y  that  carries  a  fair 
i;rade  of  coppei-  ore.  opened  l)y  cuts,  and  a  shaft  50  feet  deep. 
From  this  claim  it  is  reported  they  have  taken  out  $5000 
in  g()h\. 

There  is  a  claim  about  a  (piarter  mile  from  the  Chemisal 
House,  whereon  are  two  shafts  sunk  in  the  erossan.  one  15  feet. 
the  other  20  feet  deep.  Fair  co])per  ore.  Owner.  |);iniel 
Castignetto.  Tliis  is  in  section  3L  township  3  soutli,  range  1<J 
east. 

John  Barfield.  in  IMeasant  Valley,  owns  the  linisehi  mine. 
opened  many  years  a«;o  h_\-  shafts,  cuts,  and  tunnels.  The 
claim  runs  to  the  ^Ferced  River,  in  township  3  south,  raufre  15 
east. 

Between  Bartield's  andHornitos  there  are  copper  croppings 
somewhat  prospected,  especially  at  a1)out  halfway  between  the 
two  places  on  Phillips  Flat. 

From  Barfi(dd's.  across  the  river  to  the  north,  are  croppings, 


268  THE  COPPER  RESOURCES  OF  CALIFORNIA. 

and  on  Antone  Rihn's  ranch,  in  section  13,  township  3  sonth. 
ran^e  15  east,  there  are  shafts  60  and  40  feet  deep,  respec- 
tively, sho\vin<i-  chalcopyrite,  besides  deeonipased  copper  ore. 
On  the  Ilalstead  place  there  are  croppinjis  and  a  shaft  30  feet 
deep,  showing  copper  ore.  The  vein  is  4  to  6  feet  \\ide.  The 
croppings  are  copper-stained  schistose  rock. 

At  Flyaway,  about  five  miles  southeast  of  Coulterville,  on 
the  county  road  to  Bear  Valley,  is  a  claim  having  a  shaft  75 
feet  deep,  with  drifts  at  bottom.  The  croppings  of  the  vein 
are  7  feet  wide.  It  is  in  the  serpentine  belt  that  traverses  the 
country  hereabouts.  In  the  shaft  the  vein,  carrying  copper, 
averages  12  feet  Avide.  The  c'oi)per  content  has  always  l)een 
neglected,  and  the  ore  worked  only  for  gold.  It  is  reported 
that  about  $75,000  in  gold  has  been  taken  from  pockets  in 
the  mine.    The  owner  is  G.  Commissiona. 

In  the  eastern  portion  of  the  county  there  are  indications 
of  extensive  deposits  of  copper  ore.  which  have  never  been 
worked  to  any  considerable  extent.  The  ]\Iinaret.  on  King 
Creek,  a  west  branch  of  the  Little  San  Joaquin,  on  the  south 
shoulder  of  Blount  Lyell,  exhibits  strongly  impregnated  coi^jier 
rocks.  There  is  no  development,  however,  to  show  the  extent 
or  value  of  the  deposits. 

On  the  north  fork  of  Chowchilla  Creek,  in  section  34,  town- 
ship 6  south,  range  19  east,  at  Indian  Peak,  considerable 
prospecting  was  done  by  ]Mr.  AVard.  of  Grub  Gulch.  Con- 
siderable native  copper  is  found  in  the  ores. 

Copper  Queen  Mine. — \\  Stanton  and  J.  J.  Trabueco  own 
a  claim  in  section  19,  township  5  south,  range  19  east.  It  is 
east  of  the  :\Iother  liode  and  about  three  and  a  half  miles  east 
of  the  town  of  Mariposa.  The  vein  strikes  northwest.  A  shaft 
has  been  sunk  40  feet,  and  an  incline  15  feet  deep  shows  a  vein 
over  4  feet  wide  in  a  schistose  formation.  The  ore  is  green 
carbonate  on  top,  with  blue  sulphide  l)elow;  some  is  very  high 
grade,  carrying  massive  na+ive  copper. 

George  Ileiser  owns  an  adjoining  claim,  showing  similar  ore, 
with  shaft  30  feet  deep.  The  values  reported  are  from  19  to 
37  per  cent  in  copper.  There  is  an  abundance  of  timber 
surrounding  the  last  two  properties. 

Copper  in  slate  and  quartz  is  occasionally  found  in  localities 
adjacent  to  the  jMother  Lode,  and  on  the  east  side  of  it.  along 


MADKKA    COUNT\.  -""^ 

its  course,  but  such  occurrences  have  never  proved  to  have  any 

economic  vahu". 

There  is  a  minor  spur  from  tlie  copper  belt  proper  m  the 
southwestern  corner  ..f  the  county  in  section  30.  township  8 
south,  range  18  east.  X..t  much  prosiMvlin-  has  been  done 
upon  it. 

MADERA  COUNTY. 


Tlu'   I'oDlhiU  (•-.ppn-  1..H    maintains   in    .Mndci'a   County  the 
importance,  promise,  and  .•li;ii';i<-1.M'is1  ics  i1   disph.ys  in   Mai-i- 
posa  County   to  the   norlli.     .\1    various   points  throu-li    tins 
countv    it    exhibits    stronj;    copper-bearin-    veins,    freciucntly 
carrving  good  vahies  in  gold.     Here,  too.   were  some  of  the 
important    early    attempts    at    copper    mining    and    smelting. 
Before  1866,  the  Huehanan  mine,  near  tli(>  northern  boundary, 
was  operated  with  the  aid  of  a  small  iurnaee.  and   l-')!)  tons 
of  copper  bars  had  been  shipped.     This  county  has  al.so  been 
the  scene  of  later  attempts  at  mining  and  reduction  of  copper 
ores  bv  the  California  Copper  Company,  though  temporary 
failure'  has  marked  the  attempt.     Several  copper  properties 
have  been  vnidergoing  development. 

Madera  County  differs  from  its  northern  neighbors  of  the 
Sierra   Nevada   I'liin.-ral   belt    in    reaching   westward   past   the 
foothills  to  the  center  of  the  great  San  Joaquin  Valley,  and 
so  including  in  its  area  a  large  section  of  that  fertile  plain.     It 
mainlv  lies  on  the  slope,  however,  reaching  to  the  summit  line 
of  th("  ranue.  and  possessing  a  wealth  of  minerals,  for&sts,  and 
waters.     Though   the  Moth.M-   Lode   and   the   auriferous  slate 
belt  of  the  slope  terminate  just  to  its  north,  the  county  includes 
a  rich  section  of  the  Sierra  auriferous  belt,  but  tli.'  iniiltitudi- 
nous  quartz  veins  are  in  granite  and  oilier  formations.     There 
are   several   important    gold   mining   districts   in   the   county, 
including  Grub  Gulch,  Fine  Gold,  Fresno,  Potter's  Ridge,  and 
others,  and  a  numl)er  of  important  mines  have  been  developed, 
yet  the  county  has  been  strangely  neglected  and  its  mineral 
resources  are  but  slightly  developed  or  even  known. 

Ilieh  in  the  Sierras,  by  the  Minaret  :\rountains.  are  rich 
silver-bearinir  veins,  and  one  of  the  largest  and  richest  deposits; 


270  THE  COPPER  RESOURCES  OP  CALIFORNIA. 

of  iron  ore  in  the  United  States.    Difficulty  of  access  and  other 
conditions  have  kept  them  undeveloped. 

Among  other  mineral  resources  of  the  county  is  granite. 
The  granite  quarry  at  Raymond  is  one  of  the  largest  and  most 
active  in  the  west.  The  foothill  mineral  belt  crosses  the  county 
from  IMariposa  to  Fresno,  maintaining  its  southeasterly  course 
and  its  relative  position  on  the  slope. 

Buchanan  Mine. — Close  lo  Ihe  northern  l)oundary  of 
Madera  County,  hut  a  little  south  of  the  Green  ^lountain  mine, 
in  ]\Iariposa  County,  is  the  old  Buchanan  mine.  It  is  in  section 
33,  township  8  soutli.  range  ]8  east,  and  is  oa\iu'(1  l)y  G.  A. 
Pherson.  Five  miles  southwest  is  Daulton,  on  tlie  branch  rail- 
road to  Raymond.  The  mine  is  opened  by  five  tunnels,  respec- 
tively 500,  120.  100,  60,  and  30  feet  in  icngtli.  There  are 
also  two  shafts,  each  about  200  feet  deep.  The  vein  matter  is 
diabase  and  amphibolite  schist,  l)otli  mineralized.  The  east 
wall  of  tile  diabase  dil^e  is  granodiorite.  The  ores  are  princi- 
pally oxides  near  the  surface.  In  depth  they  are  the  unaltered 
sulphides.  There  are  three  winzes  ])elow  the  500-foot  tunnel, 
which  show  the  four  veins  from  4  to  J)  feet  wich\  Tlic  large 
dumps  show  that  extensive  work  has  been  done  in  times  past, 
since  the  discovery  of  the  deposits  in  the  early  sixties.  What 
ore  can  be  seen  appears  to  be  good  both  in  (juantity  and  (piality. 
The  mine  is  near  tiie  railroad. 

On  the  line  southeast  toward  the  Daulton  ranch  house  there 
are  several  openings  on  the  1)elt  consisting  of  okl  and  new 
shafts,  cuts,  and  tunnels,  whereby  one  is  enabled  to,  trace  the 
course  of  the  belt  unerringly. 

The  mine  has  been  worked  by  the  United  States  Copper 
Smelting  and  ?\Iitiing  Company,  under  liond.  ^Vitll  one 
exception.  Ilic  obi  tunnels  are  partly  caved  in  and  are  no 
longer  in  use.  and  a  new  shaft  has  been  started  below  the  old 
one  near  the  foot  of  the  hill  about  200  feet  east  of  the  vein. 
It  is  200  left  deep  and  a  drift  runs  from  the  bottom  in  a 
westerly  direction,  intended  to  cut  the  vein  dipping  towards 
it  within  about  a  hundred  feet.  The  shaft  is  equipped  with 
steam  hoist,  air  compressor,  and  the  necessary  accessory  build- 
ings. The  principal  vein  has  been  traced  alonu-  tlie  slope  of 
the  hill  for  some  distance,  its  strike  bearing  north  15  degrees 
west,  with  a  dip  of  70  degrees  towards  the  east.     Several  small 


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23 


272  THE  COPPER  RESOURCES  OF  CALIFORNIA. 

ore  seams  of  little  importance  are  found  east  of  this  vein  with 
a  course  parallel  to  it.  Part  of  the  mine  was  worked  under 
lease  by  .Mr.  Van  Timmens.  w  ho  worked  the  main  vein  through 
a  tunnel  over  200  feet  long-.  1100  feet  north  of  the  shaft.  A 
winze  was  sunk  in  a  drift  at  the  end  of  the  tunnel  on  the 
vein  from  2  to  4  feet  wide,  carrying  a  black  sulphide  with 
chalcopyrite.  The  ore  was  reported  to  assay  15  per  cent 
copper.  4'-i  in  gfold.  and  12  ounces  of  silver. 

Joe  Wagner  Mine. — The  Joe  AVagner  mine  is  situated  in 
section  2.  township  8  south,  range  18  east,  and  section  35, 
township  9  south,  range  18  east,  on  land  patented  January  10, 
18()3 ;  owner,  Caesar  Vignola,  Raymond.  Aliout  one  and  a 
half  miles  due  east  from  the  Buchanan.  P^ormation,  schist ; 
vein,  southwest-northeast.  Old  shaft  full  of  water,  about  100 
feet  east  of  it  is  a  shaft  25  feet  deep  ;  dry.  but  inaccessible.  Old 
shaft  said  to  be  80  feet  deep;  one  drift  in  bottom;  one  30  feet 
from  surface,  and  said  1o  have  j)roduced  some  copper  ore. 
Very  little  evidence  of  copper  ore,  except  a  few  pieces  of  oxide 
copper  ore,  mostly  malachite,  on  the  dump.  Has  been  idle 
many  years.  The  property  is  distant  from  Raymond  aliout 
six  miles. 

Copper  Queen  Mine. — In  section  15.  township  9  south,  range 
18  east,  two  and  a  half  miles  north  of  the  Daulton  house.  ]\Ir. 
Allinger  bonded  the  property  and  sank  a  shaft  in  the  same 
formation  as  at  the  Buchanan  and  in  the  Daulton  mines,  and 
obtaining  the  same  class  of  ore.     Owner,  the  Daulton  estate. 

West  of  the  old  Daulton  schoolhouse  a  short  distance  are 
several  old  shafts,  showing  copper  ores,  oxides  and  sulphides. 

On  the  northern  part  of  the  Daulton  ranch  there  are  several 
good  copper  prospects. 

California  Copper  Co. — This  is  a  New  York  corporation 
which  bought  the  Xe  Plus  Ultra  and  other  claims  on  the 
Daulton  ranch,  near  the  railroad,  in  section  35.  townsliip  9 
south,  range  18  east.  The  mine  was  developed  and  a 
100-ton  smelter  Avas  erected  at  INIadera.  twelve  miles  dis- 
tant, in  1899-1900.  After  four  months  of  smelting,  the 
smelter  and  mine  closed  down  in  June.  1900.  and  have 
since  been  idle.  The  claims  are  opened  by  three  shafts  and 
equipped  Avith  steam  hoists.  The  depths  of  the  shafts  are 
respectively  200.  200,  and  120  feet.     Besides  the<?e.  there  is 


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274  THE  COPPER  RESOURCES  OF  CALIFORNIA. 

another  .sliiil't  on  the  Xelson  chiiiii  lOO  i'eet  deep,  eciuipped  with 
a  whim.  The  vein  matter  is  in  phiees  200  feet  wide.  The 
more  condensed  areas  of  mineralization  are  abont  GO  feet  in 
width.  The  formation  is  diabase,  which  in  phiees  changes  to 
talcose  schist.  Granodiorite  lies  to  the  east,  as  is  usual  on  this 
belt.  The  ores  are  carbonates,  oxides,  and  sulphides.  The  two 
former  overlie  the  latter,  and  are  in  lens-shaped  ])unches. 
There  are  gossan  croppings  cai)ping  the  ore  bodies.  The  strike 
of  the  vein  is  northeast;  the  dip  is  to  the  east.  Large  quanti- 
ties of  ore  have  l)eeu  extracted.  shii)ped,  and  smelted.  The 
three  hoists  surmount  the  summit  of  a  low  hill,  around  whose 
base  are  grouped  the  various  mine  buildings,  such  as  bunk 
houses,  store,  offices,  shops,  dwellings,  etc. 

The  smelting  j)lant  of  the  company  is  located  at  Madera. 
twelve  miles  west  from  the  mines.  The  ore  w;is  ti-ausported 
to  Madera  by  teams,  from  which  point  it  \v;is  shipped  l)y  rail 
to  one  of  the  acid  works  on  San  Francisco  Hay.  The  sulphur 
was  there  extracted  and  the  cinders  returned  to  ]\Iadera,  where 
th(\v  were  mixed  with  a  certain  proportion  of  raw  ore  and 
smelted  into  matte.  This  process  was  continued  for  about 
four  months,  when  the  smelter  was  shut  down.  AVhile  in  blast 
the  company  shipped  on  an  a\i  rage  one  carload  of  matte  per 
day.     The  smelter  is  of  100  Ions  dail\'  capacity. 

The  property  of  this  company  has  lieen  transferred  to  the 
California  and  Nevada  Copper  Company,  of  Ncnv  York ; 
"Walter  C.  Brace,  manager;  I.  N.  Baker,  superintendent.  The 
width  of  the  ore  bodies  varies  from  9  to  40  Peet,  and  the 
average  is  reported  to  be  .S  ]ier  cent  copper.  28  per  cent 
sulphur,  40  ])er  cent  iron,  $4  in  gold,  and  I  ounce  of  silver. 
On  an  assay  chart  of  somewhat  remote  date  several  drifts  are 
marked  as  being  in  5  and  12  per  cent  ore.  The  smelter  has 
remained  idle  ever  since  it  was  shut  down. 

Questo  Mine. — This  is  the  south  extension  of  the  Daulton. 
and  is  owned  by  Mr.  Greenwood.  The  vein  nuitter  is  meta- 
diabase.  The  ore  occurs  in  lenses.  Considerable  work  has 
been  perfornu^d  upon  it. 

The  copper  b(»lt  extends  south  of  Daulton  to  the  San  Joaquin 
River,  the  county's  southern  boundary.  It  can  be  traced  along 
this  interval  and  its  course  proven  by  ci-op]nngs,  cuts,  and 
shalloAv   shafts.      Near   the  Fresno   Rivi'r   it    disappears,   but 


7, 
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27()  THE  COPPER  RESOURCES  OF  CALIFORNIA. 

reappears  faiihcr  sontliward.  From  a  ])oiiit  ten  or  Iwelvi' 
miles  (lireetl\-  east  of  Madera  copper-stained  roek  appeal's  eoii- 
timiously  iuto  Fresuo  County.  Tlie  formation  in  wliieh  tlie 
masses  of  iron  and  copper  suli)hi(l(\s  oeeni-  is  praetieally  the 
same.  vi/..  a  meta-diabase.  'I'lu'  j^ranodiorite  follows  alonji:  as 
an  east  wall. 

In  section.s  23  and  2(1.  lownsiiip  1(1  south,  laniic  1I>  east,  on 
patented  land  owned  by  ^Irs.  L.  Krohn.  •).  H.  Ward  developed 
undei-  b(uul  an  ohl  cbiini  whidi  was  oi"iginally  taken  up  for 
ji'old.  Good  coppci'  ore  and  iudii-at  ions  of  a  deposit  wei'o 
observ(Ml. 

Adobe  Ranch. — Tiie  ero])pings  lead  into  what  is  known  as 
the  Adobe  ranch,  owner  ('.  S.  Moses,  in  township  10  south, 
range  19  east,  comprising  thirty-five  sections  of  land,  and  nine 
miles  south  of  Uaulton.  There  are  seviM-al  phices  on  the  ranch 
Avhere  30  per  cent  copper  ore  is  said  to  have  been  taken  out. 

One  local  i)eculiarity  of  the  belt  in  Madera  County  is  the 
presence  of  graphite  in  seams  and  bunches  within  the  copper 
belt. 

At  the  Fresno  River  there  are  several  old  shafts,  the  dumps 
of  which  show  copper  ore.  The  l)elt  bears  oH'  easterly'  and 
crosses  the  San  Joacpiin  at  Pollasky,  which  is  in  township  11 
south,  range  21  east. 

On  tlie  Chowchilla  River,  in  the  northern  part  of  the  county, 
in  township  7  south,  range  19  east,  there  is  <piite  an  extensive 
copper  deposit,  which  C.  M.  Ward  i)rospected.  Tlie  ores 
developed  are  o.xides  and  carbonates. 

Three  miles  east  of  liellview.  in  section  l(i.  township  10 
south,  range  21  east,  off  the  copjx'r  belt,  is  what  is  known  as 
the  Old  Reed  mine,  which  carries  some  copper  in  its  ores. 

Big  Chief. — This  claim,  owned  by  ]\1.  Lauer  et  al..  is  on  the 
east  bank  of  Fine  Cold  Creek,  in  section  23,  township  10  south, 
range  21  east,  in  the  Hildi'clh  inininu  disti'id.  on  the  south 
side  of  the  count\'.  Considerable  development  has  been  per- 
formed on  a  series  of  three  ledges.  2  to  8  f(>et  wide.  Here  the 
smaller  veins  are  of  ((uartz.  in  a  schistose  vein  matter  of  exten- 
sive width.  One  tunnel  is  in  46  feet.  There  is  a  sliallow  shaft 
10  feet  deep.  The  greater  pari  of  the  work  is  against  the  face 
of  the  bluff,  where  the  veins  are  exposed.  The  copper  ores 
are  sulphides,  oxides,  and  green  carbonate,  and  it  is  said  that 
they  carr>'  values  of  $4  to  $5  in  gold  per  ton. 


FKKSNO    COUNTY.  'Ill 


FRESNO  COUNTY. 


About  :?••  iiiilt'^;  of  the  foothill  cni)])!'!-  l)cll  nuvisures  the 
iijii'i'owcsl  |i,irt  (if  tlu'  lar^c  ami  iini)ortaiit  (•(niiitx  of  Fresno, 
wliieh  stretehes  from  tlif  crest  of  the  Sierra  Nevada  raiiyc  foi- 
nearly  !")()  miles  down  tlie  Sierra  slope,  aei'oss  the  San  .loaijuiii 
Valley,  and  up  Ihe  eastern  sloj)e  of  the  Coast  Ran«re  to  its 
snnuiiit.  It  thus  naturally  displays  ;i  very  y:reat  divtM-sifieation 
of  physieal  feature^^.  eonditi(»ns.  and  resources.  The  ru'jucd 
and  well  timbered  and  watered  Sierra  slope,  nearly  (iO  miles 
wide  from  ran<re  summit  to  valley  plain,  is  extensively  min- 
eralized. ))ut  its  mineral  resources  have  bp(Mi  but  slightly 
exploited.  <Jold  ipiarl/  veins  ai'e  plentiful  aloui!  a  wide  belt, 
and  several  mitiinL:  districts  are  well  known.  I)u1  the  'juld 
product  is  yet  small.  In  few  counties  does  the  inaccessible 
and  unexplored  ])ase-ore  belt  of  the  hi^di  Sierras  display  more 
inviting  surface  indications,  lielow  these  <rreat  areas  is  the 
foothill  mineral  belt. 

The  vai'ied  minei'al  i-esources  of  the  county  that  have  been 
developed  are  mainly  in  the  lower  foothills  of  both  ranycs. 
The  chief  feature  of  these  resource^  is  the  petroleum  of  the 
famous  ('oalin'_'a  oil  field  on  ihe  wes1ei-n  side  of  Ihe  valley.  1  lie 
product  of  wliich  ill  I'.luT  w;is  !».(i.")().;i()()  liai'i'cls.  Xeai-  Ibis 
oil  fiekl  are  extensive  coal  beds,  which  were  at  one  time  mined. 
Silvei".  antimony,  ii'on.  bismuth,  chi'ome.  maLiitesite.  buildini;' 
stoue.  ami  mineral  waters  are  amonu  the  existeni  mineral 
products  awaitiny  utilization.  The  Sierra  slope  is  well  watered 
In-  the  San  Joacpiin  and  Kinizs  rivers  and  their  tributaries. 
The  jrreat  stretch  of  valle\-  plain  is  wonderfully  fei-tile  under 
irri«rati(»n.  and  its  fruits  have  chiefly  ^iven  the  county  its  fame. 
Here  is  the  «rreat  raisin  district  of  the  State.  One  of  the 
important  electric  transmission  plants  of  the  State  fiiuls  its 
soui'ce  of  energy  in  a  Sierra  sti'eam. 

The  foothill  copi)er  belt,  as  it  enters  the  county  from  Madera 
on  the  north,  displays  a  greater  width  than  in  any  of  the  otiiei- 
counties  travei-sed  by  the  belt  fnmi  its  far  northern  end.  The 
copper  deposits  that  have  under<rone  any  development  worthy 
of   note   are   all    near   the   northern   side   of   this   pai-t    of   the 


278  THE  COPPER  RESOUKCES  OF  CALIP'ORNIA. 

e(iiiii1\-.  jiiid  art'  cliieHy  in  lowiisliip  ]'2  soiitli.  ninj^es  21, 
22,  2;^.  ;iii(l  24  cast.  .Moiiiil  Diablo  iiun-idiaii.  The  belt 
here  appears  to  displa\  parallel  lodes,  spread  over  a  width 
of  i)erhai)s  twenty  miles,  and  is  tienerally  taken  by  those 
locally  familial-  wilh  it  to  divide  into  two  brandies  in  this 
region,  tliese  widely  (.liver^rin^-  branches  coiitiuuiug  separately 
on  throutih  Fresno  and  Tulare  counties.  The  property  best 
known.  1)\  reason  of  its  operations  and  its  larye  capitaliza- 
tion, is  the  Copper  Kim:,  which  has  been  extensively  devel- 
oped. .Alost  of  the  other  ])roperties  commandini;  attention 
as  ])rospects  are  within  a  few  miles  of  the  Copper  King. 
A  branch  railroad  to  Pollasky  runs  within  a  few  miles  of 
this  coppci-  district  near  the  northern  side  of  tlu'  county, 
^lost  of  till'  cuiiriferous  veins  of  Fresno  County  carry  jiold. 
as  do  those  in  ^Madera  and  ^lariposa  to  the  north.  Far 
east  of  the  belt,  and  hi^h  in  the  Sierras,  at  altitudes  of 
several  thousand  feet,  are  various  mining  claims  covering 
veins  superficially  rich  in  copper  and  gold;  but.  like  the  rest 
of  the  mineral  riches  of  this  vast  region,  they  await  the  more 
favorable  conditiims  that  time  will  bi-ing  to  an  almost  inac- 
cessible country. 

Painter  Mine. — This  property,  by  the  northern  boundary, 
near  Pollasky.  in  section  3;^.  township  11  south,  raniic  21  east, 
is  owned  by  the  Imperial  Copper  .Minim:  Company.  The 
cour.se  of  the  vein  is  23  degrees  north  of  west.  There  are 
gossan  croppings  1  to  20  feet  wide.  The  vein  matter  is  meta- 
dial)ase,  changing  in  some  places  to  talcose  schist.  The  country 
rock  is  diabase  and  amphibolite  schist.  The  vein  followed  in 
the  workings  is  from  4  to  7  feet  wide.  The  mine  was  reopened 
in  1!)()0.  The  development  consists  of  one  shaft  110  feet  deep. 
equipi)ed  with  a  horse-whim,  which  shaft  follows  oxidized  ores 
for  100  feet,  and  then  encounters  the  sulphides.  .\n  inclined 
shaft  80  feet  deep  follows  the  hanging  wall.  This  shaft  has 
drifts  and  crosscuts  from  it.  with  total  lengths  of  160  feet. 
Another  shaft  has  been  sunk  .')()  feet  in  carlmnate  ore.  There 
is  an  open  cut  6  or  7  feet  deep,  m.ule  in  1866.  that  follows  the 
vein  al)()ut  50  feet,  and  shows  good  appearing  oxidized  ores. 
The  known  length  of  ore  shoot  disclosed  by  the  above  openings 
is  750  feet.  In  places  in  the  mine  there  are  found  lumps  of 
very  rich  ore  ("nigger  heads"),  inclosed  in  talc.     From  the 


••UESNl)    COUNTY— COPPKR    CI. A  [.MS    AND    MINKS. 


279 


first  shaft  .Irifts  .sWud  lu.tli  cast  an.!  w.st  f..r  4."^  t.et.  .nak.ni: 
a  total  .Irift  Im^^th  .>f  OO  foet.  S.v.ral  hu.uln.l  tuns  ot  ore 
hav.  h....n  .xtra.-t,.a  a.ul  ship,,..!,  an.l  is  sai.l  to  Ik.v.  yu^U  -1 
a„  av.ra....  of  i:.  ,.or  cut  copp.r.  Tl..-  .opi-'-  "'It  ='  t'>- 
point  is  two  nnh-s  wide.  Tl.e  Painter  nune  ,s  on  tl,e  (..st  sule 
La  th..  lleisUell  nnn.  on  the  west  side  of  the  heh.  There  are 
a  few  buihlin..s  on  tlie  property,  su.h  as  assay  offiee,  board.ncr 
and  hunk  houses,  barn,  etc 

Fresno  Copper  Mines.-Tlns  cjroup.  formerly  knowu  as  the 
IIoiskMl.  .-ousistiug  of  five  full  Maims,  was  owurd  by  11    H. 
Vereoe  et  al     II.  <i.  Vercoe  superintendent,  and  is  hi  section 
10   township  V>  south,  rancre  21  east.     The  eourse  of  the  vein 
is  "north  and  south,  width  18  feet.     There  ;--  ^^^f-;" 
en.ppiu.'s.      The    -ossan    extends    downward    about    oO    feet. 
Belol  th^e  .ossan  eaps  are  bluish-blaek  sulphides     The  mines 
are  opened  bv  shafts,  two  of  200  feet  each  in  depth,  one  of  oO 
feet    one  of'  45   feet,   and   one   of   35    feet.      Six   men   were 
emploved.      Tlie   ores   are   car])onates   and   oxides   above    and 
sulphides  below,  and  the  avera^^e  assay  value  of  the  ore  was 
stated  to  be  7  per  cent  copper  and  $2  in  aold. 

Since  the  publication  of  Bulletin  No.  2:?  tliese  mines    u.ve 
become  the  property  of  the  Fresno  Copper  <''>»;P^'">'-/^^;^:-;;; 
01as,^ow.  Scotland,  which  has  increased  by  purcliase  of  ad,o  u- 
i„„  ,,,opertv   the   aiva   of  its  possessions  to   more  than    20)0 
acres      Tlu-  .-ompauy  made  ext.nsivr  improvmruts  on   llu" 
around,  consistiner  of  hoist  and  pump  for  th.  main  shaft,  air 
compressor,  electric  liudit  plant,  sawmill,  machine  shop,  assay 
office   the  necessary  buildin^^s  for  offices  and  residences,  and  a 
copper  smelter.     Steam  furnishes  the  power  for  ho,st  ami  a. 
eompressor.      The    pump,    ele^-tric    li.ht    plant,    sawmill,    a 
workshop   are  operated   by   .lectri.-ity   furnished   by   the   San  , 
Joaquin    Power    Company.      The   smeltin.    plant    -^"s.sts    o 
three  essential   parts:   the   furnaces,   the  converter  shed,   and 
the  power  house.    The  two  furnaces,  each  of  200  tons  capacity, 
are  of  the  round  type,  built  of  brick,  lined  with  .-hronu-  iron 
brick,  and  fitted  with  heavy  air  pipes  for  hot  I'last-     An  iron 
floor  extends  around  and  between  the  furnaces,  a  little  below 
where  the  iron  cone-shaped  coverin-  commences,  wluch  has  a 
lar.e  round  openin.r  at  the  top   for   introducin.^  the  chari^e 
there  bein-  no  feed  doors.     Each  furnace  has  alon.crside  of  it 


280 


THE  COPPER  RESOURCES  OF  CALIFORNIA. 


a  cyliiKli'ical  dust  clianihci-  of  sheet  ii'ou.  with  a  smokestack  of 
tile  same  material  attaeheil.  On  one  side  stand  three  \i\r^e 
fvlindrical  air  chambers,  made  of  iron  and  lined  with  fire 
briek.  with  a  stove  foi-  heating-  the  air.  All  of  these  structures 
stand  on  a  cement  foundation,  elevated  about  12  feet  above  the 
izronnd,  with  a  railroad  track  immediatel.\  in  front  and  across 
it  a  level  s|)act'  for  beddiiiL;  the  ores  and  a  bin  for  receiving 
the  readv  mixed  charjies.  A  movable  derrick  running  on  the 
track,  was  intended  to  carry  the  ores  from  the  beddin<"'  floor 
to  the  bins.     Fi'om  each   fui'uace  an  iron  fi'ame  extends  to  the 


I'UIOSXO   ("OPl'lOIi    MI.\i:,    FRKSXO    COl'.X'I'V 


oi'e  l)in.  containing  a  wire  cable,  by  means  of  which  an  iron 
bucket  filled  with  the  oi'c  chai'Lic  is  lifted  to  tlie  to|)  and  dis- 
charged through  the  a|»er1ui'e  in  its  center.  The  converter 
house  (an  open  ii'on  shed)  contains  three  convei'tei-s  of  the 
Leghoi-n  t\pe.  with  all  tlie  necessary  ai)i>ai-atus ;  a  car  fitted 
with  an  iron  box.  lined  with  fire  brick  and  heated  with  oil.  for 
conve\ing  the  matte  from  the  furnaces,  slag  pots,  anil  molds 
for  receiving  the  metal.  The  motive  power  for  furnaces  and 
converters  is  supplied  from  a  building  situated  between  them. 
where  a  500-horsepower  engine  drives  a  large  piston  blower 
for  the  furnace  blast,  a  smaller  one  loi'  the  converter  and  a 
pumping  machine  to  produce  hydraulic  pressure  for  the  opera- 


FRESNtt    ((MNTV       (OI'l'KK    MINKS    AND    CLAIMS.  liSl 

tiuii   nf   the   iiHiviiij^'  iifjir  (if  llu-   latlci-.      A    r;iilr»t;i(l   h.id   liri-ii 
surveyed  !<»  tin-  nearest  point  nii  tin-   l-'iTsiiti-PollasUy  hraiidi. 
three   iiiil<'s   distaiil.    and    hefore    tin-    loadltcd    was    liiiislied    a 
loeoiiiotivf   and   sevei-al   ore   cars    wci'i-   ordered    and    di'li\fiTd 
at  the  mine.     This  smelter  has  neviM-  been  in  operation  to  an> 
•rreater  extent  than  the  startimj;  of  a  lii't'  in  the  air  heatei-  and 
a  trial  run  of  the  machinery,  whii-h  revealed  a  serious  defect 
in    its  construction.      Aftei-   the   jdaiit    was   conii)leted.    it    was 
discovered  that  tlie  ore.  of  which  there  were  tiiousands  of  tons 
on  the  dump  and  exposed  in  the  mine,  was  too  low  irrade  foi' 
treatment,  and  the  company  deeided  to  (-online  operations  at 
present  to  the  ex|)loration  of  the  iniiu'.   ho|)inL:-  to  lind   ln'ttcr 
ore  at  ^'reatcr  dei»tli.  the  i)rospeet  work  heini;  carried  on  under 
the  nianairement  of  ( ".  C  Leavitt.     The  miue  is  situated  in  the 
western    coi)pei-   licit,    in    a    low    hill   on   the  edire   of  the   San 
Joa(|uiu  Valley,  and  lliere  is  no  ^^ossan  or  any  other  indication 
of  ore  outside  of  it    in  the  innncdiate  neiLrhhorhood.     The  ore 
occurs  in  schistose  rock.  partl\   nncaccous.  with  strata  of  dark. 
tine-^M-ained  rock  re.sembliu'r  diabase.    Near  the  surface,  extend- 
iu'T  only  to  little  depth,  some  I'ich  oi'cs  had   lici'ii    found   and 
were  smeltc(|  nn  the  ui'ouud.  as  shown  li\'  a  small  pile  of  slaii'. 
but  at   what   time  and  by  whom  this  was  done  is  not    known. 
Three  veins  are  known  within  the  wide  minerali/.ed  zone,  one 
ea.st  and  one  west  of  the  main  vein.  Imt  except  the  latter,  they 
have  not  been  explored  Ix^low  the  gossan.     The  main  shaft   is 
530  feet  deep.      Drifts  on   the  2(»(>  aiul   :^)()()-foot    levels  expose 
a  solid  body  of  sulphide  ore.  principally  pyrrhotite,  extending- 
40(1  feet  alou'T  the  course  of  the  vein,  attainiii'r  a  width  of  over 
50   feet    in    places    (avera'_dn<:    U    feet    in    thickness),   and   of 
unknown  extent  downwards.     'I'his  oi-c  was  supposed  to  avera<re 
at    least    7    pel-   cent    (-(ipi>ei-    and    api)reciable    values    in    i^dld. 
but  when  it   was  sampled  afhr  I  In   siinlhr  hail  Ik  <  ii  ((iiii  ph  litl 
and    was    ready    to    be    started,    tin-    astonishin<i    fact    became 
known  that  it  assayed  oulx    2  per  (-cut  copper  and  i)racti<-ally 
no  iidld.     On  the  :?00-f<:ot  level  a  cross  vein.  2  to  4  feet  wide. 
has  been  discovered  and  followed  a  short  distance  by  a  drift. 
which  carries  ualeiia.  iron  pyrites.  zin(--blende.  and  k<><><^^  values 
in  silver.     Small  streaks  of  chal(-o|\vrite  appeared  in  the  lower 
work  in  us. 


282  TIIK  COPPER  RESOURCES  OF  CALIFORNIA. 

Copper  King-  Mine. — This  mine  is  in  section  'A.  township  12 
south,  range  2'-i  east.  It  was  owned  l)y  tlie  Copper  King 
Mining  Company.  Ltd..  of  London,  of  whieh  \V.  II.  Daily  was 
tlie  general  manager.  The  property  consists  of  one  mining 
claim.  1500  hy  600  feet,  with  all  necessary  bnildings  thereon. 
The  vein  courses  northeast  and  southwest.  The  vein  matter 
appears  to  have  a  width  of  over  100  feet.  It  is  schistose 
and  meta-diabase  in  its  composition,  all  mineralized.  The 
lenses  of  ore  consist  of  carbonates,  oxides,  and  sulphides  of 
iron  and  copper.  The  sulphides  obtain  to  the  exclusion  of  the 
others  in  the  deeper  workings  of  the  mine.  This  was  opened 
by  three  shafts,  the  deepest  of  which  was  used  for  operating 
purposes  and  the  others  for  ventilation  only.  The  first  named 
shaft  is  450  feet  deep.  Altogether  there  are  six  levels  driven 
from  the  operating  shaft,  with  total  lengths  of  over  2500  feet. 
The  usual  granodiorite  belt  bounds  the  copper  belt  to  the  east 
and  diorite  lies  to  the  Avest. 

The  smelter  of  the  Copper  King,  Limited,  at  Seal  BlnflP 
Landing,  on  Suisun  Bay.  forty  miles  from  San  Francisco, 
was  called  the  Pacific  Coast  Smelting  and  Refining  Works. 

Besides  treating  the  ore  from  the  company's  mine  in 
Fresno  County,  copper  ores  were  sought  and  received 
from  many  sources.  After  running  the  smelter  for  awhile, 
the  comi)any  failed,  and  the  property  went  into  the  hands 
of  a  receiver.  While  the  smelter  remained  closed,  the  mine 
was  worked  in  the  interest  of  the  creditors  in  charge 
of  C.  C.  Leavitt,  under  whose  management  it  paid  a  hirge 
amount  of  money  from  a  16-foot  vein  of  chalcopyrite,  aver- 
aging 8  per  cent  copper.  In  June.  1907,  the  property  was 
sold  by  order  of  the  court  and  bought  by  the  Hart  Mining 
Company  of  Fresno,  for  nearly  $45,000.  which  started  work  in 
July,  and  is  said  to  have  taken  out  more  than  that  value 
in  a  few  months.  The  main  shaft  has  reached  a  dejith  of 
nearly  800  feet  and  the  other  incline  a  depth  of  about  700  feet. 

The  two  properties,  the  Copper  King  and  the  Fresno  mine, 
promoted  l\v  the  same  party,  present  interesting  examples  of 
faulty  mining  operations,  if  nothing  worse:  Itut  this  is  not 
the  place  to  make  an  attempt  to  draw  the  delicate  linc^  between 
unintentional  and  intentional  mistakes  (frauds),  or  to  fix  the 
responsibility  upon  any  definite  individual.  It  is  sufficient  to 
state  the  facts  and  let  the  reader  draw  his  own  conclusions. 


284  THE  COPPER  RESOURCESOP  CALIFORNIA. 

The  Copper  Kiii":  consisls  of  one  claim  only,  and  at  the 
time  when  the  sincltfi-  was  huilt.  the  deepest  shaft  had 
reaelK'd  4M)  feet  oidy.  Although  llic  Nciii  was  wide.  li> 
feet  ill  phices.  and  the  ore  of  fair  j^rade,  it  does  jiol  seem 
pr()l)al)le  that  a  earefnl  estimate  of  the  ore  in  si<iht  would  liave 
shown  sutiHeient  values  to  justify  the  erection  of  a  smelter 
which  cost  $7()(),0(>().  aecordino-  to  a  statement  by  Herbert  Lanu- 
in  the  "  Engineering  and  Mininti'  .rounial."  of  November  30. 
1907.  The  company  having  failed,  the  ])roperty  pa.ssed  into 
tile  hands  of  a  receiver,  and  was  worked  from  lf)Or)  until  in()i> 
for  the  creditoi's.  in  charge  of  ('.  C.  Leavitt,  and  .sold  in  .luiie. 
11)07.  1o  the  Hart  .Mininu'  Company,  of  Fresno,  wliich  coii- 
tiiined  operations  for  sevei'al  months  and  took  out.  accordint:' 
to  reliable  information,  more  than  the  purchase  money,  which 
amounted  to  $44,000.  The  ore  taken  out  for  the  credit(n"s  was 
not  treated  in  tlie  com{)any's  own  works,  but  sold  to  another 
smeltei-  and  netted  a  hiru'e  sum.  which  seems  to  be  sufficient 
])i'oof  llinl  the  mine  would  have  paid  under  eomi)etent  manage- 
ment. Aecordiiiii'  to  TTerbert  Lanu's  statement,  the  mine  could 
have  paid  at  least  $100. 000  ch-ar  profit  witli  econ(miical  man- 
agement. 

The  case  of  the  Fresno  mine  is  somewhat  dilferent.  Leaving 
out  of  consideration  the  limited  (piantity  of  oxldi/.ed  ores  near 
the  surface,  the  mine  never  had  ore  of  sufficient  grade  to 
justify  the  erection  of  a  smeller  on  tlie  premises;  l)ut  it  is 
evi(h'n1  Ili;i1  the  eom])any  was  not  aware  of  this  fact,  for  no 
])ers(iii  of  sane  mind  would  invest  money  in  an  enterprise 
knowinu'  fin'  eerlain  that   it  must  lie  a  failure. 

Tn  llerhiTl  Lang's  article  occurs  the  fi  llowing  interesting 
])assage  :  "The  lens  upon  which  the  major  part  of  the  devel- 
ojjment  has  been  done  uave  promise  at  lii'st  of  carrying  good 
values,  but  after  the  long  deferred  samj^ling  had  been  per- 
formed, it  was  found  that  its  sulphide  portion  contained  on  the 
average  hardl>'  2  per  cent  copper."  The  expression  ''long 
defei-red  sam|ilinL;""  implies  the  idea  thai  the  compaii\-  bad  not 
sampled  and  tested  the  ore  before,  and  was  ac1nall\  in  igiioi"- 
anee  about  its  values  and  character  all  the  time  while  the 
smeltei-  was  being  built.  AVith  thousands  of  tons  of  ore  on 
the  dump  and  exposed  in  the  drifts  of  the  mine,  such  a  sup- 
position seems  incredible,  and  it  seems  more  prol)able.  as 
stated    by    well    informed    ])arlies.    that    the    company    tiniily 


SIIII'I'INC     STATION    OF    COPPER    KING. 

OX    S.    P.    R.    R. 


,I.MlTI-:i).     AT     DKKRING. 


iTcVl 


k1  .4fp4»^^p4n|i«| 


»>.  ^. 


»i»i't*ir» 


7!  ' 


SMELTER   Oy  THE   COPPER   KING.    LIMITED.    AT   SEAL   BLUFF 
LANDING,    CONTRA   COSTA   COUNTY. 


286 


11  IK  COPPEK  RESOURCES  OF  CALIFORNIA. 


Ijt'lieved  the  ore  averaged  7  per  cent  copper  and  carried  appre- 
cial)l(>  values  in  uold  besides.  When  the  smelter  was  completed, 
a  iHctallur^ist  was  en.iia.ued  to  niii  it.  He  sampled  the  ore, 
found  it  "to  average  scarcely  2  per  cent  copper,  and  sent  in 
his  resignation  with  this  report.  Then  two  experts  were  sent 
to  sample  llie  iiiiiic  and  when  lliey  contirmed  the  low-grade 
character  of  the  ore  no  further  attempt  was  made  to  start  the 


SMELTER    AT    FRESNO    MINE,    FRESNO    COU.VTV. 

smelter.  It  is  a  i-ein;ii'ka!)U'  cii'eunistaiice  that  Mr.  Lang  was 
likewise  ignorant  of  the  character  of  the  ore.  for  otherwise 
he  could  nol  have  advised  the  company  to  put  uj)  a  plant 
which  cost  about  half  a  inillion  dollars,  lint  whatever  may 
have  been  llie  circumstances  and  conditions,  the  erection  of  the 
smelter  was  a  blunder  which  coidd  easily  have  been  avoided 
and  for  which  there  was  no  excuse.  Some  one  lias  been  guilty 
of  gross  negligence,  if  nolhing  worse. 

Something  might  be  said  about  the  type  and  arrangement 
of  the  smelter,  but  such  technical  (piestions  are  irrelevant  to 
the  main  point  at  issue;  the  great  mistake  was  to  i>ut  it  up  in 
a  place  where  it  ought  not  to  be. 


KKKSNO    COINTY — C'OPI'KK    MIXES    AND    CLAIMS.  2h/ 

Wabash  Mining  Co. — This  conipany  has  located  ground 
suiTouiuliiiy:  thf  Cupper  Kinir  iiiiiir  on  all  sides.  There  are 
two  shafts  on  this  pr(»pt'rty.  one  alxmt  40  t"e<;t  deep,  on 
wliirh  the  owm-rs  niadf  preparations  to  n-fct  lioistinjr 
uiaehinery.  'I'Ih'  (;thcr  slial'l  is  ovci"  'M)  feet  th't-p.  One  lunncl 
lias  been  nm  over  400  feet,  and  another  MOO  feet.  Tlic  vein 
formation  is  siniihir  to  thid  of  the  Copper  Kinir.  'IMicsc  mines 
arc  in  sections  2.  :>.  10.  and  11.  lownshi])  12  south, 
rauire  2'-\  east,  and  ai'e  owned  liy  I)i'.  JJryaiit  and  others  t)f 
Los  Anireles. 

Mount  Sterling. — ()\vnrd  by  Kncipcr  (S:  Ashl)rook.  and 
adjoinini;  the  Wahash  .irronnd  on  the  soutli.  in  section  lo. 
township  12  south,  rauire  '2'A  east.  ()n  this  |inipcit>  the  owners 
di-ove  a  tuinicl  to  cut  the  h'd<re.  which  is  mineralized,  carryiuir 
ii'iiu  ami  c(ip|)cr  sulplndcs. 

Grubstake  Claim. — Owned  by  C.  II.  Kmipi  r  and  Mr. 
Taylci":  adjoins  the  .Mount  Stcrlimi'.  and  shows  similai-  copper 
ore.  Southward,  the  in<lications  of  coppei-  ore  continue  t(» 
Kind's  Kiver. 

Black  Mountain  Claim. — in  section  36,  township  11  south. 
rau]Li:e  23  east,  one  and  a  half  miles  northeast  of  the  Copper 
KinjLT;  owned  1)>  W.  S.  Ci-annu'r.  It  is  on  patented  land. 
The  vein  is  in  limestone  ( calc  spar),  and  averajres  about  3 
feet  in  width.  This  ore  is  said  to  carry  15  to  1!)  per  cent 
copper  and  $5  in  .u^old  per  ton.  'I'he  openinjrs  comprise  a  shaft 
30  feet  deep,  a  tunnel  run  in  a  northeasterly  direction  aloui.; 
the  course  of  the  vein  for  (iO  feet,  and  another  tunnel  20  feet 
below  the  tii'st  named,  following'  the  vein  for  180  feet.  The 
vein  sj)lits  and  has  decidedly  bi-anchiuL;  tendencies.  At  the 
mouth  of  the  ISO-foot  tunnel  there  is  a  shaft  30  feet  deep  in 
ore.  A  third  tunnel,  intended  to  sti'ike  tlu-  vein  100  feet  below 
the  bottom  of  this  30-foot  shalt.  has  been  started.  It  is  now 
in  12.")  feet.  ( )|).Mi  cuts  aud  shallow  holes  on  the  surface  dis- 
cover  the   same   (lUalitv   of   ol-e    whel'cvel'    tlle\-    have    been    suuk. 

The  ore  is  o.xidc  and  sulphide  of  trood  appearance.     The  east 
wall  is  a  ^vay  diabase,  associated  with  talc  schist. 

Buck's  Peak  Claim. — Two  miles  south  of  Black  I\Iountaiu; 
owned  by   W.   S.   ( 'ranmer.     Shows  two  veins.  30  feet  apart. 


"288  THE  COPPER  KESOIKCKS  UF  CALIFORNIA. 

one  of  which  is  one  foot  wide  and  the  other  three  feet  wide. 
A  shaft  12  feet  deep  on  the  3-foot  vein  shows  green  carbonate 
of  copper  ore  for  the  wlioic  width  of  the  vein. 

Sunset  Mine. — in  section  35.  township  11  south,  range  23 
cast ;  owners,  i).  S.  Snodgra.ss  I't  al.  Tliere  are  gossan  croj)- 
piugs.  The  ledge  matter  is  60  feet  wide.  The  ore  is  of  about 
the  same  character  as  that  in  the  Copper  King,  and  consists 
of  carbonates  and  sulphides.  There  is  a  shaft  90  feet  deep. 
with  crosscut  at  its  bottom  60  feet  long,  all  in  ore.  which  is 
said  1o  average  10  per  cent  copper  and  to  carry  about  $14  in 
gold  per  ton.  The. vein  matter  is  schistose  diabase.  A  l)clt 
of  limestone  occurs  in  the  east  side. 

A.  L.  Hilde])rand  has  locations  on  both  tlie  north  and  south 
ends  of  the  Sunset  claim.  On  these  locations  arc  croppings  of 
the  same  character  as  on  the  Sunset. 

Ilcin'v  Wineberger  has  locations  on  the  northwest  side  of 
llildebrand's  claim,  on  wUiih  thcM'i^  are  indications  of  copper. 

Happy  Camp  Claim. — Three  aiul  a  half  miles  east  of  the 
Copper  King  mine.  There  is  a  tunnel  135  feet  long,  witli 
crosscut  at  end  17  feet  long  from  wall  to  wall.  The  ore  is 
decomposed  (piartz.  said  to  carry  4  per  cent  copper  and  $10  in 
gold. 

"\V.  L.  II inkle  &  Bros,  have  some  claims  in  sections  25,  26, 
and  27,  township  12  south,  range  24  east,  that  show  copper  ore 
in  tah'ose  schist.  There  are  several  other  prospects  near  b\-. 
which  yield  copper  minerals. 

Anderson  &  (list  own  fifteen  claims  on  Hog  ^lountain.  one 
and  a  half  miles  west  of  Trimmer  Springs,  in  sections  14.  15. 
23,  and  24.  township  12  south,  range  24  east.  Across  the  river 
east  of  TrimmtM-  Springs.  ^Ir.  Terrill  of  Visalia  is  working  ten 
claims  in  sections  16  and  17  on  the  cojiper  lu'lt,  with  some 
favorable  prosjiects.  These  claims  are  in  township  12  .south, 
range  24  east.  Then^  are  heavy  iron  gossan  crop])ings  on  the 
property. 

In  Kings  Kiver  Canyon,  high  in  the  Sierras,  in  sections  9 
ami  10.  township  13  south,  range  31  east,  there  aiv  indications 
of  copper  deposits.  George  Badders  &  Co.  are  now  working 
seven  claims,   in   which  thev  find  some  very  go(5d  oxide  and 


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TULARE   COUNTY.  289 

sulpliidc  ores.  Tlicy  liml  opened  a  sliaft  30  feet  deep.  Imt  not 
enough  development  work  had  liccn  i^erformed  to  determine 
the  e.xtent  or  value  of  tlu'.se  tleposits.  The  vein  matter  is 
mostly  (juartz. 

P.  A.  Kanawyer  cV:  Sons  own  a  pjroup  of  eij^ht  elaims  in 
seetion  11.  township  13  south,  ranire  31  east.  The  vein  matter 
is  (piart/.  with  ^'ranodioi'itc  walls.  The  vein  shows  6  to  15 
feet  in  width,  and  is  ti'act'd  for  two  miles.  It  earries.  accord- 
ing to  information,  over  10  per  eent  eopper  and  $11  in  gold. 
There  arr  oix-n  cuts  and  a  perpendieidar  eliff  100  feet  high; 
the  eliff  shows  the  vein  in  its  face.  The  prospeet  is  thirty-six 
miles  from  .Miilwitod. 


TULARE  COUNTY. 


A  large  area  of  the  Sierra  slope  is  comprised  witliin  the 
bounds  of  Tulare  County,  the  eastern  boundary  of  which  runs 
for  about  75  miles  along  the  range  summit  and  the  western 
portion  of  which  embraces  a  fertile  and  favored  section  of  the 
San  Joaquin  Valley.  In  this  county,  in  the  Sierra  foothills,  is 
one  of  the  important  orange  districts  of  California,  and  here, 
also  in  tlie  valley  plain  below,  are  extensive  orchards  and 
vineyards  as  well  as  many  great  grain  ranches.  This  is  one 
of  the  minor  mineral  counties  of  the  State,  though  it  has 
extensive  mineral  resources  awaiting  the  future. 

In  this  county,  the  copper  b(»lt  displays  bnt  occasional  indica- 
tions of  its  presence,  has  been  but  little  explored  and  only 
slightly  developed.  The  branches  into  which  the  belt  divides 
in  Fresno  County  appear  to  be  prolonged  with  increasing 
divergence  through  Tulare  County.  The  western  branch  is 
the  most  clearly  defined,  and  is  characterized  by  narrow 
diverging  seams  or  stringers  of  copper-bearing  minerals.  Just 
east  of  Porterville.  there  is  an  area  of  country  fully  five  miles 
wide,  in  which  these  small  veins  occur.  Like  the  ea.stern 
branch  this  one  is  extensively  hidden  by  detrital  deposits,  and 
outcrops  only  at  intervals.  This  west  branch  appears  to  lose 
its  identity  and  disappear  near  Kernville.  in  Kern  County,  to 
19— BuL.  50 


290  THE  COPPER  RES0URCE:S  of  CALIFORNIA. 

the  south.  The  east  l)raneli  of  the  belt  swings  easterly  and 
mounts  to  an  altitude  of  over  5000  feet.  The  chief  deposits 
identified  witli  this  east  branch  are  near  the  middle  of  the 
county,  thirty  miles  or  so  east  of  Porterville  and  the  west  belt, 
and  amid  the  forest  region,  where  some  of  the  chief  sequoia 
groves  of  the  State  are  found.  Copper  prospects  of  possible 
future  value  occur  high  in  the  Sierras,  notably  some  descril)ed 
below,  located  close  to  Kearsarge  Peak  in  the  extreme  north- 
eastern corner  of  the  county,  above  the  timber  line  and  at  an 
altitude  of  10.000  to  12,000  feet. 

W.  F.  Powell  owns  some  claims  in  the  east  branch  of  the 
copper  belt,  located  in  section  30.  township  19  south,  range  31 
east,  on  the  middle  fork  of  Tule  River,  thirty  miles  east  of 
Porterville.  at  an  altitude  of  about  5500  feet.  The  mineralized 
zone  is  said  to  be  300  feet  wide,  and  can  be  traced  by  surface 
croppings  for  more  than  six  miles  in  a  northerly  direction. 
There  are  three  tunnels,  one  cross-cutting  the  mineralized  rock 
for  150  feet,  without  reaching  a  wall.  The  course  of  the  vein 
is  northeast  and  southwest.  The  copper  ores  are  yellow  and 
black  sulphides,  carrying  3  to  4  per  cent  copper.  Occasionally, 
however,  small  quantities  of  native  copper  are  found.  Tlie 
vein  matter  lies  between  a  limestone  east  wall  and  a  serpentine 
west  wall. 

W.  F.  Grider  has  a  claim  two  miles  east  of  the  Enterprise 
sawmill,  in  section  31,  toAvnship  19  south,  range  31  east.  Some 
test  lots  of  ore  have  been  shipped. 

C.  W.  Keller  owns  claims  near  Powell's  in  the  same  town- 
ship and  range.  The  vein  matter  is  reported  to  be  not  less 
than  70  feet  Avide  on  any  of  these  claims.  A  lime  belt  4  to  100 
feet  wide  intersects  the  copper  lode  near  these  places.  The 
copper  belt  crops  out  again  strongly  five  miles  above  Three 
Rivers,  and  there  are  several  locations  on  this  part  of  the  belt.. 

East  of  Porterville.  ten  miles,  in  section  14.  township  23 
south,  range  28  east.  Dr.  Barber,  of  Porterville,  prospected 
wlijit  proved  to  be  a  blanket,  or  slide,  of  ore  reported  as  carry- 
ing 8  to  37  per  cent  copper. 

Dr.  Barber  also  has  a  claim  located  eight  miles  east  of 
Porterville,  in  section  19,  township  21  south,  range  29  east. 


-^K^: 


-  -<4 


>^^\.ij?»- 


COPPER. MOUNTAIN  MFNING  COMPANY'S  CLAIMS.   TTJLARE  COUNTY. 


292  THE  COPPER  RESOURCES  OF  CALIFORNIA. 

Here  there  is  a  heavy  iron  capping,  and  the  vein  appears  to 
be  20  to  30  feet  wide.  Below  tlie  iron  cap  carbonate  and  oxide 
of  copper  ore  is  fonnd.  The  formation  is  diabase  and  aniphih- 
olite  schist.  The  goUl  content  is  reported  at  from  $3  to  $4 
per  ton. 

Dewey  Claim. — Owned  hy  J.  F.  Boiler,  of  Forterville,  is  in 
section  32,  townsliip  19  .south,  range  31  east.  Only  a  small 
amount  of  divclopment  has  been  performed.  Tliis  exposes 
sulphide  ore. 

On  the  hillside  east  of  Porterville  is  an  abundance  of  small 
pieces  of  copper  float,_  which  doubtless  came  from  the  five-mile 
belt  of  snuill  stringer  veins. 

Copper  Mountain  Mining  Co. — Owns  fifty  claims  in  sec- 
tions 34  and  35,  township  14  south,  range  31  east,  near  Kear- 
sarge  Peak,  close  to  the  crest  of  the  range.  H.  ^IcCourt  is 
superintendent,  and  J.  B.  Campbell,  of  Fresno,  president. 
The  mines  were  opened  in  July,  19UU.  The  ores  are  sulphides 
and  carbonates,  carrying  from  2  to  25  per  cent  of  copper. 
The  mineral-bearing  belt  is  a  mile  wide,  and  courses  northeast 
and  southwest.  The  deposit  in  the  richer  veins  of  this  belt 
is  opened  by  a  shaft  18  feet  deep,  a  tunnel  5  feet  long,  and 
an  open  cut  50  feet  long,  on  the  east  side  of  Roaring  River. 
On  the  west  side  there  is  an  old  shaft  and  drift. 

At  the  head  of  Cloudy  River  Canyon,  close  to  the  Copper 
IMountain  property,  there  are  some  cuts,  and  a  tunnel  40  feet 
long.  Quartz  shows  strongly  in  this  tunnel.  The  decomposed 
ironstone  carries  gold.  The  old  shaft  shows  a  3-foot  ledge  of 
carbonate  ore.  The  vein  matter  is  schist,  diabase,  and  amphib- 
olite.  The  claims  are  1000  feet  above  the  timber  line.  A 
dike  about  3000  feet  wide  passes  through  the  summits  of  the 
mountains.    This  dike  is  of  mineralized  rock. 

A  few  miles  east  of  Lindsay  the  foothills  of  the  Sierra  rise 
abruptly  from  the  plain  to  a  height  of  about  900  feet,  present- 
ing smooth  lines  and  rounded  summits.  The  formation  is 
schist,  serpentine,  and  granite  porphyry.  They  are  separated 
by  Lewis  Creek  from  the  adjacent  hills  on  the  north,  which 
are  composed  entirely  of  granite  and  present  a  very  broken 
and  rugged  appearance. 


KKHX  corxTV.  203 

In  1905,  A.  W.  Sherman,  post  office  Lindsay,  found  some 
copin'i-  on  the  soutlicrn  slope  of  a  Iiill  and  loeated  llir  l>lne 
Crystal  (|uai-t/.  iiiiiie.  one  elaim.  non-patented.  A  small  vein 
in  serpentine,  rnnninir  southwest-northeast,  carried  oxidized 
ores  with  a  little  hornite  and  ehalcopyrite.  The  workings  con- 
sist of  an  open  cut  and  a  tunnel  of  about  7')  feet,  from  which 
some  ore  was  taken.  So  l;ii".  no  shipment  has  been  nuule, 
but  it  is  stated  that  a  samjjle  assayed  81)  per  cent  copper,  $32 
sold.  $15  silver.  Broad  bands  of  massive  Vesuvianite  or  Cali- 
fornite  liave  been  encountered  in  the  workinfjs. 

On  the  northern  slope  of  the  same  hill  the  Gill  mine  has 
been  located  in  scliist  and  altered  i)orphyritic  rock.  An  open 
cut  and  tuiuiel.  tofjether  about  90  feet  in  length,  shows  a 
2-foot  vein  running  southwest-northeast,  carrying  some  oxi- 
dized ores. 


KERN  COUNTY. 


The  foothill  ro])per  belt  terminates  in  a  vague  way  in  Kern 
County,  where  a  few  groups  of  co|)per  deposits  cut  a  small 
figure  among  the  varied  mimral  products  of  a  great  mining 
county.  This  is  one  of  the  large  counties  of  the  State,  having 
an  ;irea  of  about  8100  .sfpiare  miles,  and  it  is  characterized  by 
greater  variety  and  contrasts  of  topography,  geology,  climate, 
and  I'esonrces  than  any  othei-  ( 'aliroriii;i  county. 

Its  eastern  and  southeiii  parts  contain  the  southern  end  of 
the  Sieri-a  Nevada  range  and  its  mergence  with  the  Coast 
Range  at  Tehachapi.  Its  western  liotuidai-y  is  along  the 
summit  of  the  Coast  Range,  and  the  upper  end  of  the  San 
Joacpiiii  Valle\-  makes  up  about  one  third  of  tlu*  county's  area. 
The  .southeastei'u  slope  of  the  Sierras  and  a  large  |)ortion  of 
the  Mojave  Desert  are  included  in  its  southern  j)ai-t.  The 
county  thus  includes  slopes  of  two  nu)untain  ranges,  a  large 
and  fertile  valley  plain,  and  an  arid  desert  region.  All  of  these 
contrasted  regions  contain  much  mineral  wealth.  On  the 
Sierra  slope,  amid  forests  and  waters,  are  important  quartz 
mining  districts.     In  the  valh-y  plain,  near  Hakersfield.  is  the 


294  THE  COPPER  RESOURCES  OF  CALIFORNIA. 

reniarkahk'  and  widely  known  Kern  River  oil-field.  On  the 
eastern  slope  of  the  Coast  Range  are  the  Sunset  and  ]\IcKittrick 
oil-fields.  Avhich  help  make  Kern  the  preeminent  petroleum- 
])rodneing  county  of  California.  Tlic  foothills  of  both  these 
ranges  abound  in  various  minerals,  including  gypsum  and 
antimony.  In  the  desert  region  of  the  county  is  the  Rands- 
burg  district,  one  of  the  chief  gold  fields  of  the  State,  and  other 
gold  districts  are  undergoing  development  on  the  desert  side 
of  the  Sierras.  The  mineral  output  of  the  county  in  1907  was 
$6,092,006,  of  which  $878,798  was  in  gold.  In  the  San  Joaquin 
Valley  are  extensi^^i  orchards  and  the  largest  irrigation 
systems  in  tlie  State.  The  Kern  River,  of  the  Sierra  slope, 
furnishes  power  for  one  of  the  important  electric  power  trans- 
mission plants  of  the  State. 

The  copper  occurrences  are  so  few  and  widely  separated,  as 
far  as  discovered,  that  one  is  hardly  warranted  in  identifying 
them  with  the  (oppcr  ])elt,  except  in  the  most  general  way. 
The  continuity  of  the  belt  is  less  apparent  than  in  any  of  the 
counties  of  the  slope  to  the  north.  Copper  deposits  have 
attracted  attention  principally  in  three  localities:  Near  Woody 
and  (juite  a  distance  east  near  Kernville,  on  the  western  Sierra 
slope ;  in  the  Rademacher  mining  district,  on  the  southeastern 
slope  of  the  Sierras ;  and  on  tlie  northern  edge  of  the  ]\Iojave 
Desert,  north  of  Randsburg.  In  the  neighborhood  of  Walker's 
Pass,  between  Kernville  and  the  Rademacher  district,  copper 
minerals  are  found,  and  the  copper  claims  of  the  latter  district 
may,  perhaps,  be  appropriately  classed  with  the  Sierra  Nevada 
deposits  raflier  tlian  witli  tliose  of  the  arid  portion  of  Soutliern 
California. 

Greenback  Copper  Mine. — Located  in  northern  Kern 
Countv,  al)out  thirtv-five  miles  bv  wagon  road  from  Bakers- 

•,■7  •  *  C7 

field  and  about  eighteen  miles  due  east  of  Jasmin  on  the 
Porterville  branch  of  the  Southern  Pacific  Railroad.  The 
property  of  the  Greenback  Copper  Company  consists  of  sec- 
tions ]  and  3,  and  the  southern  part  of  section  2,  township  26 
south,  range  29  east.  eml)racing  in  all  1520  acres.  The  mine 
lies  on  a  slight  elevation  in  a  basin,  the  rock  forming  which  is 
granodiorite.  The  granite  is  intersected  by  a  jiarallel  system 
of  joints  or  fractures,  which  usually  trend  approximately  east 


KERX    COUNTY — COPPER    MINES  AND   CLAIMS. 


295 


and  west.  In  addition,  tliore  are  very  abundant  dikos  of  a 
white,  fine-grained  granite  (aplite)  in  the  eoarse  granite  or 
granodiorite.  They  are  from  a  fraction  of  an  ineh  to  10  feet 
in  width.  Inhere  are  also  wliite.  coarse,  pegmatite  dikes,  or 
veins  in  Ihc  granite,  and  some  of  these  are  (h'veh)ped  sporad- 
ically as  hunches  of  white  (juart/.  (""Ijuir'  i|uai-tz).  Copper 
has  hccn  found  at  a  number  of  points  in  the  neighborhood, 
anil  the  lodes  are  usually  more  oi-  l(>ss  parallel  to  the  structure 
planes  of  the  inclosing  rocks,  liut  this  is  not  the  case  with  the 


'H^i^FT 


GREENBACK  COPPER  MINE.  KERN  COUNTY. 

Greenback  lode,  the  general  trend  of  which  is  across  the  east- 
west  fracture  system  of  the  granodiorite.  About  one  mile 
southwest  of  the  mine  lies  a  high  east-west  ridge  known  as 
Iron  ^Mountain.  The  upper  part  of  this  ridge  is  composed  of 
a  variety  of  rocks,  some  of  which  strongly  resemble  quartzite, 
but  the  slopes  of  the  mountain  are  all  of  granite  rocks  There 
are  several  cuts  and  shafts  on  the  tdj)  of  the  mountain  in  the 
hard  quartzite-like  rock,  but  no  strong  indications  of  copper 
appear  to  have  been  found,  except  on  the  north  slope,  just 


296  THE  COPPER  RESOURCES  OF  CALIFORNIA. 

west  of  the  line  of  section  3,  and  on  the  south  slope  of  the  east 
end  of  the  mountain,  -where  some  work  has  been  done  on  a 
copper  lode.  Several  claims  are  located  on  this  lode.  At 
most  of  the  points  where  copper  has  been  found,  the  lode  at 
the  surface  is  composed  of  a  gossan  of  rusty  iron-stained 
material,  often  apparently  rotten  granite,  generally  somewhat 
gneissic  and  not  always  showing  copper  carbonate.  The  crop- 
pings  of  the  Greenl)ack  lode  consist  of  altered  granite,  decom- 
posed, and  impregnated  with  iron  oxide  and  at  some  points 
with  copper  carbonate,  and  there  is  more  or  less  quart/  mixed 
with  it.  The  Greenl)ack  lode  has  been  opened  by  a  shaft 
which  inclines  to  the  north  about  60  degrees,  and  from  this 
shaft  three  levels  have  been  run  to  the  north.  The  upper  part 
of  the  main  ore  shoot  is  composed  of  carbonate  ore,  and  has 
not  l)een  stoped  out ;  but  from  a  point  about  65  feet  below  the 
croppings  to  a  point  170  feet  below,  this  ore  shoot  has  afforded 
ore  that  has  been  shipped,  the  reported  average  contents  being 
5.7  ounces  of  silver  and  19.4  per  cent  of  copper  per  ton.  As 
seen  in  the  cross-section,  the  ore  shoot  is  lenticular  in  form, 
with  a  maximum  width  of  about  20  feet.  Outside  of  this  ore 
shoot  the  granite  is  irregularly  impregnated  with  copper  pyrite, 
so  that  there  is  a  much  larger  amount  of  lower  grade  ore  in 
the  mine  than  of  shipping  ore.  The  Greenback  lode  does  not 
appear  to  show  any  well-defined  fissure.  While  there  are  walls 
and  seams  along  which  movement  has  taken  place,  and  these 
usually  have  a  trend  to  the  east  of  north,  yet  these  walls  and 
seams  appear  to  dip  both  to  the  east  and  west  at  high  angles. 
As  indicated  by  the  croppings.  the  lode  may  be  said  to  have  a 
length  of  perhaps  350  feet  measured  from  the  south  base  of 
the  dump  to  the  old  shaft  on  the  top  of  the  liill. 

A.  J.  IMaltby  owns  two  claims  in  sections  4  and  lO,  low  iishii) 
26  south,  i-ange  29  east.  Here  there  are  gossan  croppings  and 
schistose-diabase  vein  matter,  as  well  as  talcose  schist.  There 
are  open  cuts  exposing  ore.  Two  shafts.  Ki  and  35  feet  deep, 
are  in  ore.  There  has  been  shipped  some  ore  said  to  average 
about  6  per  cent  in  copper  and  a  sum  11  amount  of  gold. 

The  Spa  and  Bonanza  claims,  in  sections  3.  4.  9.  and  10, 
township  26  south,  range  29  east,  show  copper  ore  reported 
to  average  from  15  to  20  per  cent.     There  are  four  shafts  on 


KERN    COl'NTY — COPPER    MIXES   AND   CLAIMS.  297 

tlicse  I'laiins.  On  section  f)  lioavy  ironstone  <roppin<rs  can  be 
trat't'd  for  consiclcrable  ilistanees. 

Sdulli  nf  Kcrnvilh'.  in  township  LlO  south,  i-an^^'  '2'.\  east, 
.1.   \j.   II(in|)t'r  is  niakinj,'  (levchjpnu'nts  that  show  some  copper. 

J.  K.  Manning'  of  Kandsljiwir  is  one  of  the  (iwnei>;  of  a  ^'roup 
of  copper  claims  in  sections  7,  18.  19.  and  M),  township  28 
soutii,  ranjre  40  east,  and  in  sections  12.  l;{.  and  24.  township 
28  south,  ranj^e  39  east,  in  the  Kademacher  district  n<'ar  the 
ea.stern  county  boundary,  in  tiie  ^Mojave  Desert.  The  belt  liere 
is  (»ne  and  a  half  miles  wide.  ( Jranodiorite  lies  contijruous  to 
the  cast,  and  (Hi  tlie  west  there  is  a  lime  belt.  The  lode  is 
formed  of  a  mineralized  nieta-diabase  schistose,  chanizccj  in 
part  to  talcose  schist.  The  seams  of  riclier  copper  ore  iiiii  I'l-mn 
2  to  12  inches  in  width,  and  where  they  form  lenses  or  "shoots" 
tliey  have  widths  occasionally  of  60  feet.  These  lenses  of 
hi^ddy  mineralized  rock  constitntiiifr  the  ore  carry  a  <rood 
percentajje  of  coiijxr. 

Near  the  ^Manninjr  claims  is  the  Gallow  Glass  group,  in 
which  the  «rossan  erop|)iny-s  are  60  to  100  feet  wide  and  the 
magnetite  from  5  to  1.")  feet  wide.  Tliere  are  thirty-seven 
mining  locations  on  this  part  of  the  belt.  Tliere  ai'e  several 
open  cuts,  one  shaft  54  feet  deep,  and  fourteen  othei-  shafts. 
The  belt  can  be  traced  by  (Toppings  and  cuts  for  four  miles 
in  a  northwesterly  direction  to  where  it  disappears  under  the 
detritus  of  the  desert.  The  line  of  demarcation  between  the 
lime  and  copper  bells  can  be  noted  for  miles. 

The  road  from  Randsburg  to  the  soutli  fork  of  the  Kern 
River  through  Walker's  Pass  diagonally  crosses  the  copper 
belt,  which  also  crops  in  township  27  south,  ranges  38  and 
39  east. 


298  THE  COPPER  RESOURCES  OF  CALIFORNIA, 


SOUTHERN  AND  EASTERN  DEPOSITS. 


MONO  COUNTY. 


About  100  miles  of  the  eastern  slope  of  the  Sierra  Nevada 
range  stretches  through  IMono  County,  Avhich  lies  between  the 
jagged  crest  of  tlie  Sierras  on  the  west.  Nevada  on  the  east, 
and  Alpine  and  Inyo  counties  on  the  north  and  south,  respec- 
tively. The  county  displays  high  ranges  parallel  witli  the 
Sierras  and  is  a  part  of  the  Great  Basin.  The  county  is  a 
rugged,  arid,  almost  treeless  region,  remote  from  railroad 
communication,  except  in  the  southeastern  corner,  which  is 
traveled  by  the  Carson  &  Colorado  Railroad.  ]\Iono  Lake, 
Avhich  has  no  outlet,  is  a  large  expanse  of  saline  waters.  There 
are  many  thermal  springs,  and  widespread  evidences  of  vol- 
canic and  glacial  action. 

The  county  is  richly  mineralized,  and  has  produced  many 
millions  in  the  precious  metals.  In  1907  it  yielded  $18,574 
in  gold  and  $29,797  in  silver.  It  has  a  number  of  well-known 
mining  districts,  particularly  the  famous  Bodie  district,  in 
which  quite  extensive  mining  operations  have  been  conducted 
in  the  past ;  but  the  conditions  above  noted,  the  base  character 
of  the  ores,  and  some  large  mining  failures,  consequent  on 
incompetent  or  dishonest  admini.stration.  have  Avorked  a  long 
repression  of  the  industry.  The  extent  and  richness  of  the 
mineralized  veins  make  it  certain  that  the  future  will  see  ]\Iono 
one  of  the  leading  mineral-producing  counties  of  the  State. 
The  base  ores  that  fill  the  mountain  slopes  very  frequently 
carry  copper  in  association  with  other  minerals,  and  some 
attempts  at  mining  copper  have  been  made  in  the  past  and 
aliandoned.  One  small  copper  smelting  plant  produced  $60,000 
worth  of  ingot  copper  many  years  ago.  Only  two  copper 
properties  attract  present  attention  as  such.  They  are  on 
Copper  ^Mountain  16  miles  southwest  of  Bodie,  and  al)out  4 
miles  from  the  west  shore  of  ^NFono  Lake.     The  nearest  rail- 


MONO    COUNTY— INVO    COUNTS. 

road  station  is  00  .niU-s  from  Cop,,,.,-  M..„nt:n„.  ..  ll.«,hon,e, 
N,.vml«,  ....  11"- I'^ii*"' *i ''"'"'•"'"  "'"''■"'"'• 

Santiago,   Cuba,   and  Havana  Claims.-.^.„.-l   |.y    Iv    M^ 
ravi.i    ,.r  l'....li.-.     I.«.'at«l  -..piKi-  .M.....ita."-      1 1"      "•.'^'■ 

w  ii  oiop,.,i  to  so,,,,. ........  i.y  ■■'  '--f'-t  »'■••"■ ;  '."";.;^ 

!.     ,1,1  l.v    .l......   .-,0"  feet  ..!■  I........l"i'-'.  I'"t  tins  last 

r,:    '      s     ,      l:  to  a.. ta....     ■,■„..  ..posit  i.  fo,™,.™ 

e    ontaet  of  lim-.-  :'"'^  l-n-lon.    Tl„.  ore  ,s  p,-.„.  ,  a. 

,;  ite  a,..l  ...ah„.hi,..^     Ti,..  wi.lth  of  .1 p..s.t  >-  ""'    - 

,"  ..,.,„in,..l.  A  s,„all  l„,,.a.-..  was  onee  erecte.1  a.,.l  s,„„  o,e 
t:;'.,l  Wat..,-  pow,.r  is  avaiial.l...  ,,,.,1  .l.e.-e  .s  a.,  al.on.lanee 
of  liinlxT  in  Hit'  rc-iion. 

Goleta  Consolidated  Mines.-'l'l.,.   (iol.-.a    ...i.-  »-  »'- 
on  (Jopp...-  .M......la....     H"-!'  W.  N.'lson.  of  .l..,-.la.,.  .s  snper- 

"tend    ,..    Tl„s  ., ,.  is  P,i...a.-.l.v  a  gold  n,i.,.-.  but  ttere  ,s  „, 

"  n  |.p,..-  l,..lu..  wl,i,.l.  is  ..xposed  o„  the  hau.-„,K  wal  s.,!.-  ., 
,  , ,;  ,.„,,,..  l,ev..lo|>u,..„ts  l,ave  exposed  a  ve,„  of  ...pper 
a  ',-a«i„«  6  feet  i„  uidth,  the  ore  appearing  to  he  ehr>..^ 
„,„,,  .n,„e  ,s  a  tunnel  200  feet  on  the  ve,n,  app,ng  t  300 
feet  helow  the  outerop,  TI.,-  ..,i.,es  are  worked  onl.v  for  the 
*„d  „,d  silver  The  ,.,■..  is  I. eat,..!  hv  the  evan.de  proeess,  a 
40.1;,,;;!   :L   l......  ,.s,..l   ...  — ..   tl,e  ore.     AVater  power 

is  used. 


INYO  COUNTY. 


Invo  Co«„t,v  is  a   ..reat   and  pieturesrp.e  expanse    10  000 
square  n,iles  in  extent,  l.ving  hetween  the  s„>nn„t  of  the  S.crras 
o,*:  the  west,  Nevada  on  ti,e  east,  .lono  ('"^"^yj^-^^J^ 
and  San  Bernardino  Count.v  on  the  south.       ),.    ts  western 
:„dar.v  ris<.s  Mount  AVhitne.v  (14.515  feet)    the  « ^  '^ 
i„  „,e  ,„i,ed  States  proper,  and  about  7o  '"''^  f 'T'^' ^^ 
Death  Valle.v,  the  lowest  part  of  whieh  .s  ,nore  than  400  fee 
helow  sea-level.     At  the  foot  of  .he  Sa-rra  rang     ,s  Owens 
Lake    fed  l.v  Owens  River  and  hav.ng  no  outlet.     Sc^da  ,s 

Ir^elv  produeed  f,-..,„  the  u-a.,.,-s  ,.r  this  h.ke.    Praet.eally  all 


300  THE  COPPER  RESOURCES  OF  CALIFORNIA. 

the  arable  land  is  eomprised  in  a  stri]>  of  bottom  land,  2  to  3 
miles  wide,  liirouuli  Owens  Kiver  \'alley.  wliidi  has  a  widlli 
of  8  to  10  miles.  The  Carson  &  Colorado  Railroad,  running- 
southward  to  K(Mder  on  Owens  Lake  in  the  west-eentral  part 
of  the  countN'.  largel\'  relieves  the  handicap  of  reniotenc^ss  from 
whieh  the  county  suffers. 

Lack  of  fuel,  water,  facilities  for  coiniuunicalion,  and  con- 
venient sources  of  supply  join  with  an  unfavorable  climate  to 
repress  tlie  mininu-  industry  .ucncrally  Ihroucjhout  the  south- 
western desert  region,  but  the  great  extent  aiul  frecpient  rich- 
ness of  the  mineral  resources  of  Inyo  County  have  made  it  one 
of  the  important  mining  counties  of  the  State  since  early  days. 
The  Panamint.  Argus,  and  Inyo  ranges  and  some  lesser  ones 
run  parallel  with  the  Sierras  through  the  southern  part  of  the 
county,  and  from  the  ledges  that  fill  \ho\u  the  bulk  of  the 
$12,000,000  worth  of  ])recious  metals  Inyo  has  produced  has 
come.  Some  of  the  rich  mines  of  the  west  were  operated  in 
various  well-known  districts  years  ago.  The  ores  of  this  region 
are  base  and  a  large  percentage  of  silver  accompanies  the  gold, 
while  lead,  copper,  and  other  metals  are  also  characteristically 
associated  with  the  precious  metals.  This  county  has  been  the 
chief  silver  pi'oducer  of  the  State,  and  the  di'op  in  Ihc  price 
of  silver  was  the  nuiin  cause  of  the  (juielude  of  the  mining 
industry  here  in  recent  years.  During  the  past  few  years 
much  active  development  has  followed  several  large  invest- 
ments, and  here  as  elsewhere  through  that  desert  region, 
prospectors  have  turned  numerously  to  a  field  full  of  great 
possibilities.  The  provision  of  railroad  facilities  through 
the  southern  portion  of  the  county  will  afl'oi'd  another 
great  stinndus  to  mining  activity,  as  heretofore  only  high-grade 
ores  could  b(^  worked.  In  Death  Valley  is  one  of  the  cliief 
borax  fields  of  the' United  States.  ]\Iarble  of  fine  (|unlit\'  is 
among  the  mineral  resources  awaiting  favorable  conditions, 
and  extensive  deposits  of  nitrate  of  soda  have  been  found. 

There  are  numer(  us  occurrences  of  copper,  generally  in 
association  with  greater  values  in  other  metals,  but  it  is  occa- 
sionally th(>  jiredominating  metal  in  ore  bodies.  Some  copper 
ore  carrying  gold  and  silver  was  smelted  to  matte  and  shipped 
via  the  Colorado  River  in  early  times,  but  the  copper  output 


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STATE  MINING  BUREAU. 


MAP   OF    THE   UBEHEBE    MINING    DISTRICT,    INYO    COUNT  Y,    CALIFORNIA. 


INYO  COLNTV — COI'l'KK    .MINL.S  AM)   CLAIMS.  301 

lias  IxHMi  sniiill.  With  clifiiiici'  fui-l  ami  I  ranspDiMat  ion  facilities 
nio(.U'i-ii  siiicltitii:  plants  will  he  I'staldishcd  in  this  re'^noii  ami 
thru  cdpiici-  w  ill  liUt'ly  airain  tif^uiv  in  In\i>'s  iniiicral  initpiit. 

Wisconsin  Claim. — This  prospect  is  located  about  a  mile 
south«>ast  ol"  Darwin,  and  is  owned  by  Cliai'lcs  Ividiardson  of 
Darwin.  Tht-  vein  is  a  tontaet  between  limestone  ami  trranite. 
The  ledire  varies  from  2  to  ti  feet  in  thiekness  and  is  e.xposed  on 
the  surface  for  .several  hnndn'd  fi'd.  ThciT  is  a  shai't  about 
150  feet  deep,  with  ^ood  ore  in  the  bottom.  The  ledj.'e  shows 
malachite,  chalcopyrite,  and  cuprite,  carryinjr  .some  gold  and 
silver.  The  nearest  point  to  a  railroad  is  Keeler.  twenty-four 
miles  distant. 

Kingman  Claim. — lames  McDonald  of  Darwin,  owner. 
There  ai'e  two  claims  located  one  mile  .southeast  of  Darwin. 
The  led^e  is  a  contact  vein  between  limestone  and  i^ranite.  and 
the  avera}j:e  width  of  the  vein  is  about  3  feet.  There  are  two 
tunnels,  each  in  about  a  hundred  feet.  The  ledge  shows  mala- 
chite, chalcopyrite,  and  cuprite,  carrying  some  gold  and  silver. 

THE  UBEHEBE  DISTRICT. 

The  TT)ehebe  district  is  located  east  by  north  from  Keeler, 
the  terminus  of  the  Carson  &  Colorado  Railroad  on  Owens 
Lake,  about  3")  miles  distant.  It  comprises  api)roximately  an 
area  of  about  IT)  miles  long,  and  nearly  as  wide,  boumled  on 
tile  west  bv  Saline  \'allev.  on  the  south  bv  spurs  of  the  Lno 
range  extending  to  the  mountains  on  Hunter's  ranch;  on  the 
east  by  the  continuation  of  the  Panamint  range,  and  on  the 
north  li.\  liills  extending  from  Saline  Valley  to  Lost  Valley, 
the  northern  continuatif)n  of  Death  Valley.  Most  of  this  ter- 
ritory is  occupied  liy  two  mountains,  the  I'beliebe  and  the 
Dutton  range,  the  former  on  the  west,  running  south  and 
north  for  about  8  miles,  forming  the  eastern  ])ouiulary  of  the 
Saline  Valley;  the  latter  on  the  east,  running  jnirallel  with  it 
and  attaining  about  the  same  elevatioTi.  5000  feet  above  sea 
level,  iioth  are  separated  by  a  valley,  a  couple  of  miles  wide, 
the  greater  ])art  of  which  is  occupied  by  a  dry  lake  bed.  per- 
fectly level  and  formed  of  hard  clay,  and  called  the  "Race 
Track."  During  the  winter  it  is  sometimes  covered  by  shallow 
water,  seldom  more  than  a  foot  deep. 


SS^Wvak^M 


---***-'Tv 


Z,  O  "^  "V  T  o 


INVO  roCNTY t'OlTlOR   MINES  .\NI>   CLAIMS. 


301 


has  iM'en  siiinll.  With  duMpcr  fiu'l  miuI  t nmsporlat i.ui  facilities 
nioiU'ni  siiH'ltiiiir  I'l.inls  will  !..•  estal)lislif(l  in  this  rej^ion  and 
tlu'ii  copper  will  likely  airaiii  ti-rinv  in  lny..'s  initicral  mil  put. 

Wisconsin  Claim. — 'Phis  prospect  is  located  ahovit  a  mde 
southeast  nl'  Darwin,  and  is  owned  l)y  Charles  Kir|i;iidson  of 
Darwin.  The  vein  is  a  contact  hctween  limestone  and  ^n-anite. 
Tile  led.L't'  varies  from  2  to  (i  feet  in  thickness  and  is  exposetl  on 
the  surface  for  several  hundred  feet.  There  is  a  shaft  al)out 
150  feet  deep,  with  frood  ore  in  the  bottom.  The  ledire  shows 
malachite,  chalcopyrite.  and  cuprite,  carryinj;  some  gold  and 
silver.  The  nearest  i)oint  to  a  railroad  is  Keeler,  twenty-four 
miles  distant. 

Kingman  Claim. — lames  McDonald  of  Darwin,  owner. 
There  are  two  claims  located  one  mile  southeast  of  Darwin. 
The  ledge  is  a  contact  vein  between  limestone  and  granite,  and 
the  average  width  of  the  vein  is  about  3  feet.  There  are  two 
tunnels,  each  in  about  a  hundred  feet.  The  ledge  shows  mala- 
chite, chalcopyrite.  and  cuprite,  carrying  some  gohl  and  silver. 

THE  UBEHEBE  DISTRICT. 

The  rbehebe  district   is  located  east   by  noi'tli  fi-om  Keeler, 
the  terminus  of  the  Carson  &  Colorado  Railroad  on  Owens 
Lake,  about  35  miles  distant.     It  comjirises  approximately  an 
area  of  about  15  miles  long,  and  nearly  as  wide,  bounded  on 
the  west  by  Saline  Valley,  on  the  south  by  spurs  of  the  Inyo 
range  extending  to  the  mountains  on  Hunter's  ranch;  on  the 
east  by  the  continuation  of  the  Panamint   rang<'.  and  on  the 
north  by  hills  extending  from  Saline  Valley  to  Lost    X'alley, 
the  northern  continuation  of  Death  Valley.     Most  of  this  ter- 
ritory  is  occupied   by   Iwd    iiKiiintains.   the    I'lu'hebe   and   the 
Dutton    range,    the   former   on    the   west,   running   south   and 
north  for  about  8  miles,  forming  the  eastern  boiindai-y  of  the 
Saline  Valley;  the  latter  on  the  east,  running  parallel  with  it 
and   attaining  about   the  same   elevation.   5000   feet   above  sea 
level.     Doth  are  sei)arated  l»y  a  valley,  a  couple  of  miles  wide, 
the  greater  part  of  which  is  occupied  by  a  dry  lake  bed.  per- 
fectly level  and  formed  of  hard  clay,  and  called  the  "Race 
Track."    During  the  winter  it  is  sometimes  covered  by  shallow 
water,  seldom  more  than  a  foot  deep. 


302  THE  COPPER  RESOURCES  OF  CALIFORNIA. 

FORMATIOX. 

The  mountains  are  composed  of  granite,  ciuartzite.  and  lime, 
with  occa.sional  dil\es  of  porphyritic  and  dioritic  rocks.  Granite 
is  predominating.  It  occurs  in  great  masses  along  the  western 
slope  of  the  Ubehebe  mountain ;  forms  the  entire  mountain  in 
its  central  part  and  the  highest  peaks.  Quartzite  and  lime 
are  prominent  at  the  .southern  and  northern  extremities,  and 
some  of  the  hills  are  entirely  composed  of  either  of  these  rocks 
or  of  both  combined.  The  quartzite  is  very  ma.ssive;  the  lime 
contains  magnesia  and  is  either  of  yellowish  color  with  a  sandy 
grain,  or  of  a  bluish  color,  resembling  closely  the  Leadville 
dolomite.  No  fossils'  have  been  found,  but  from  the  position 
of  the  rocks,  the  quartzite  overlying  the  archoean  and  the  lime 
the  quartzite.  it  seems  safe  to  consider  them  palaeozoic  rocks 
of  the  Cambrian  and  Silurian  ages. 

ORES. 

The  ores  are  mostly  found  in  the  limestone,  usually  on  the 
contact  with  the  granite  or  close  to  it.  It  is  an  interesting  fact 
that  the  veins  generally  do  not  lie  directly  on  the  contact,  but 
are  separated  from  the  granite  by  a  dike  of  igneous  rock,  a 
granitic  porphyrj',  diorite  or  quartz-porphyry,  which  may  have 
played  an  important  part  in  the  mineralization  of  the  contact. 
The  ores  are  principally  oxides  of  copper,  malachite,  azurite, 
chrysocolla.  and  cuprite,  and  occasionally  some  sulphides,  espe- 
cially chalcocite,  of  which  handsome  specimens  have  been 
found.  A  few  veins  carry  gold  as  the  principal  value,  and 
recently  some  silver-lead  ores  have  been  discovered.  On  the 
whole  the  surface  ores  are  of  a  good  grade,  and  compare 
favorably  with  ores  from  camps  that  have  lately  attracted 
much  attention.  The  gangue  rock  consists  of  the  usual 
material,  silicious  iron,  jasper  or  chert,  quartz,  calcite.  and  in 
places  garnet  rock,  epidote.  pyroxene,  etc.  The  veins  are 
generally  wide  and  can  often  be  traced  for  hundreds  of  feet  on 
the  surface.  No  ore  has  been  found  on  the  lime  and  quartzite, 
and  quartzite  and  granite  contact. 

FACILITIES  FOR  WORKIXG   THE   MIXES. 

The  Ubehebe  district  has  been  known  for  more  than  thirty 
years,  the  first  location  being  made  at  the  time  when  the  Cerra 


IXVO  col   NIV  —  (.orrKK   .MINKS   AND   CT-AIMS.     '  ;K)3 

Clordo  iiiiiif  ill  tlif  Inyo  I'iiiiLTt'.  iicjir  Kct'lcr.  was  in  a  jn-os- 
ptToiis  coiulitioii.  Hut  tlif  iiiiiics  did  not  \>>\y.  work  was 
suspendt'd.  aud  they  have  hcrii  i<ll('  ever  since,  until  recently, 
when  the  L:reat  intei-est  taken  in  copper  induced  snnie  parties 
to  take  hold  «»f  some  of  the  old  properties  aud  cnniuieuce  devel- 
opment work.  The  same  dititiculties  peculiar  to  most  of  the 
desert  camps,  lack  of  water,  wood,  and  transi)ortatiou  faeilities, 
which  pi-oved  insurmountable  in  tlie  olden  times,  still  exist, 
hut  not  in  the  same  de^'ree,  and  can  he  easier  overcome 
by  improved  mechanical  appliaiu-es,  while  the  high  price  of 
e<)pper  inrmits  of  greater  expenditure  for  its  produetion. 
Water  is  found  (S  miles  distant  from  Ubehebe  Mountain,  in 
Grapevine  and  Dodd's  springs,  and  small  streams  are  found 
in  the  canyons  after  heavy  snows  and  might  be  utilized.  A 
new  spriiiLT  has  been  lately  opened  on  Tin  .Mountain  in  the 
Dutton  range,  about  6  miles  from  the  new  camp  of  Ubehebe 
or  Saline.  Although  the  distance  to  the  railroad  at  Keeler  is 
not  great,  oidy  a  little  over  "J<>  miles  in  a  straight  line,  it  is  of 
little  advantage  for  the  canij)  l)ecause  there  is  no  wagon  road 
to  the  station,  and  j)ractieally  it  has  been  in  communication 
with  the  railroad  oidy  since  the  completion  of  the  new  line 
from  Tonopah  to  Bullfrog.  A  wagon  road  has  been  ])uilt  from 
Ubehebe  through  Lost  Valley  (which  is  here  2000  feet  above 
sea  level)  and  the  Grapevine  range  to  the  small  station  IMon- 
tana.  a  short  di.stance  from  \he  old  Thorpe  mill.  liy  trail  the 
distance  to  Keeler  and  Darwin  is  about  35  miles,  the  wagon 
road  to  Montana  oO  miles.  There  is  another  wagon  road  from 
Alvord  through  the  Inyo  ranire  and  Saline  Valle\-,  but  it  is 
a  long  distance  and  particularly  disagreeable  in  summer  time 
on  account  of  the  irreat  heat  in  that  vall(\v. 

The  Valentine  Group  of  fourteen  claims,  situated  about 
halfway  between  Keeler  and  T^behel)e.  has  several  veins  between 
granite  and  lime,  reported  to  assay  2i{.  to  IH  per  cent  copper, 
9  to  14  ounces  of  silver,  and  a  little  gold.  The  copper  bullion 
has  over  50  feet  sulphide  in  lime,  said  to  assay  4  per  cent 
copper.     Owners.  I.  Anthony  and    D.  Pobst.  Lone  Pine.  Cal. 

Navajo  Chief  Claim.— Owners.  W.  T.  Grant  of  Olancha  and 
George  ]\IcConnell  of  Independence.  It  is  located  one  quarter 
of  a  mile  south  of  Dodd's  Springs.    Elevation,  4000  feet.    The 


304  THE  COPPER  RESOURCES  OF  CALIFORNIA. 

vein  outcrops  for  about  1000  feet,  showing  an  average  width 
of  50  feet,  and  with  a  strike  north;  dip  80  degrees  east.  The 
hanging  wall  is  limestone  and  the  foot  wall  granite.  The  ore 
is  chietly  malachite,  carrying  some  gold  and  silver.  There  is 
sufificient  water  for  mining  purposes.  The  nearest  railroad 
point  is  Keeler.  thirty  miles  distant. 

Eureka  Claim. — Owned  by  Jacob  Stininger;  post  office 
address.  Tule  Canyon,  California.  It  is  located  one  eighth  of  a 
mile  south  of  Dodd's  Springs;  elevation,  3500  feet.  The  strike 
of  the  vein  is  north,  and  dip  60  degrees  to  the  east.  The  crop- 
pings  show  a  length  of  150  feet,  and  an  average  width  of  5 
feet.  There  is  an  80-foot  shaft  and  100  feet  of  drifts  on  the 
vein.     The  ore  is  malachite  and  shows  some  galena. 

Trail  Claim. — Owners,  AV.  T.  Grant  of  Olancha  and  George 
McConnell,  of  Independence.  It  is  located  at  Dodd's  Springs; 
elevation,  3900  feet.  The  vein  has  a  strike  north;  dip  70 
degrees  to  the  east.  It  outcrops  about  800  feet,  and  shows  an 
average  width  of  5  feet. 

Dodd's  Springs  Claim. — Owned  by  AV.  T.  Grant  of  Olancha 
and  George  ^IcConnell  of  Independence.  This  mine  is  located 
on  the  same  ledge  as  the  Trail  claim.  It  outcrops  for  1000  feet 
and  shows  a  vein  about  15  feet  wide.  The  character  of  the 
ore  is  malachite. 

Ulida  Group. — This  group  includes  eight  prospects:  The 
Ulida,  Sorbia,  Sardine.  11.  ]\I.  Stanley,  Kabba  Riga,  Virginia, 
^Maryland,  and  Hunter,  located  in  the  Button  range,  three 
miles  north  of  Hunter  Ranch  ^NFountain,  and  thirty-five  mile-s 
east  of  Keeler.  Elevation.  6000  feet.  The  nearest  water  is 
three  miles  distant,  and  could  be  obtained  by  gravity.  All  of 
the  veins  are  contacts  between  limestone  and  granite.  The  ore, 
which  occurs  mostly  in  the  limestone,  is  malachite,  tetrahe- 
drite,  and  cuprite,  carrjnng  gold  and  silver.  Immense  out- 
croppings,  varying  from  10  to  20  feet  in  width  and  showing 
malachite,  are  expased. 

At  the  Ulida  there  is  a  tunnel  150  feet  on  the  vein,  and 
another  tunnel  above.  150  feet  long,  runs  for  40  feet  on  the 
vein.  There  has  been  some  sloping  done,  and  about  400  tons 
of  ore  are  on  the  dump.  The  ore  is  sorted,  packed  out  on 
mules  seven  miles  to  a  road,  then  hauled  to  Keeler  and  shipped 


CROPPINGS   OF   COPPER   KING    ^riNMO.    UBEMEBE    DISTRICT,    INYO 

cor  XT  Y. 


COPPER  CROPPINGS  AT  DODDS  SPRINGS,  UBEHEBE  DISTRICT,  INYO 

COUNTY. 

20— BuL.  50 


306  THE  COPPER  RESOURCES  OF  CALIFORNIA. 

to  the  smelter.  Owners,  Spear  Bros,  and  AVilliani  L.  Hunter; 
post  office  address,  Lone  Pine,  Inyo  County.  The  Ulida  is  one 
of  the  oldest  claims  in  the  district. 

Adjoining  the  I'lida  jironp  on  the  norlheast  are  the  Keeler, 
the  Olancha.  and  the  Spear,  owned  by  ^NlcConnell  &  Spear. 
The  outcroppinos  are  similar  to  those  of  the  Ulida  group. 

Copper  Knife. — Located  a  quarter  of  a  mile  east  of  the 
Randolph  race  track ;  owners,  W.  T.  Grant  of  Olancha  and 
George  JNIcConnell  of  Independence.  The  ledge  outcrops  about 
800  feet,  and  shows  a  width  of  10  feet.    The  ore  is  malachite. 

Anton  &  Pobst  Claims. — These  mines  include  iivc  claims, 
located  sixteen  miles  east  of  Keeler.  The  claims  show  out- 
croppings  100  feet  wide,  800  feet  in  length,  on  the  strike  of 
the  vein.  Tlie  ore  is  chiefly  malachite.  There  is  a  tunnel  about 
20  feet  long,  in  good  ore.  Owners,  John  Anton  and  David 
Pobst,  of  Lone  Pine,  Cal. 

Silver  Hill. — This  claim  is  located  seven  miles  east  of 
Independence,  and  one  lialf  mile  from  the  Carson  &r  Colorado 
Railroad;  t^lcvatiou.  4r)00  feet.  Owner,  J.  C.  Roeper,  of  Inde- 
pendence. There  is  a  70-foot  tunnel,  showing  a  2i/2-foot  vein 
of  malachite.  The  vein  is  a  contact  between  granite  and  lime- 
stone. There  is  i)lenty  of  Avater  for  mining  and  reduction 
purjioses. 

Green  Monster.— Owner,  D.  C.  Riddell,  of  Gilroy,  Cal. 
This  is  a  continuation  of  the  Silver  Hill  prospect.  Develop- 
ment consists  of  a  300-foot  tunnel  and  two  crosscuts,  one  80 
feet  and  th(^  other  50  feet.  Some  good  copper  ore  has  been 
exposed. 

Copper  Tail. — J.  C.  Roeper,  owner.  This* claim  adjoins  the 
Green  Monster.  It  has  a  40-foot  shaft  in  the  ore  body.  The 
ledge  is  4  feet  wide  at  the  surface,  but  pinches  at  tlie  bottom 
of  the  shaft. 

Copper  Point. — Owner,  IMax  Fausel ;  located  one  mile 
northeast  of  tlie  Green  ^Monster.  It  has  a  10-foot  shaft  in 
good  ore.  The  vein  shows  a  width  of  2  feet,  and  an  outcrop 
of  about  500  feet  on  the  surface.  It  is  a  contact  vein  between 
granite  and  limestone.    The  ore  is  malachite. 


INYO  COUNTY — COPPER  MINES  AND  CLAIMS. 


307 


The  Inyo  Copper  Mines  and  Smelter  Company. — l>y  far 
the  most  important  exploration  work  in  tlie  district  has  been 
dono  ])y   this  oonn>Mn.\ .    whose  property  consists   of   nineteen 


INYO    COPPER    SMELTING    AND    MINING    COMPANY,    UBBHEBE 
DISTRICT,  INYO  COUNTY. 


308  THE  COPPER  RESOURCES  OP  CALIFORNIA. 

claims,  located  in  the  lime  and  quartzite  formation  at  the 
southern  extremity  of  Ubehebe  Mountain.  On  twelve  claims, 
havinii:  an  area  of  2-40  acres,  ore  has  been  found  reported  as 
assaying:  from  -4  per  cent  to  41  per  cent  copper,  and  carrying 
small  (piantities  of  silver  and  gold. 

Excelsior. — A  vein  is  found  in  the  lime  not  far  from  the 
contact,  about  20  feet  wide,  .strike  southeast-northwest,  dip 
about  65  degrees;  ore,  oxides,  reported  as  assaying  from  2  to 
16  per  cent  copper.  A  70-foot  shaft  cuts  the  vein  and  con- 
tinues in  the  foot  wall.  No  crosseutting  has  yet  been  done.  At 
about  400  feet  south  another  opening  has  been  made,  showing 
strongly  copper-stained  gangue  rock. 

Fairbiiry. — Shows  a  vein  about  6  feet  wide,  witli  lime  for 
a  foot  and  diorite  for  a  hanging  Avall;  strike  east  and  west; 
dip  about  50  degrees  north.  Shaft  of  40  feet  passes  through 
vein;  no  crosseutting  yet.  Ore  reported  as  assaying  3  to  11 
per  cent  copper. 

Fairbanks  No.  4. — A  30-foot  open  cut  and  tunnel  runs 
across  the  contact,  but  does  not  show  the  full  width  of  the  vein, 
which  runs  east  and  west.  Several  streaks  of  ore,  principally 
malachite,  with  some  sulphide,  are  found,  one  about  2  feet 
wide,  reported  as  a.ssaying  37  to  41  per  cent  copper,  a  few 
ounces  of  silver,  and  a  little  gold. 

Ormonde. — An  open  cut  of  35  feet  crosses  mineralized 
zone  Ijetween  lime  hanging  and  diorite  foot  wall;  strike  north- 
east and  southwest ;  dip  about  50  degrees  south ;  5  feet  reported 
as  assaying  5  to  30  per  cent  copper.  A  9-foot  shaft  a  short 
distance  from  the  cut  shows  several  feet  of  vein  matter  with 
some  sidphides. 

Ormonde  No.  2. — Sho\vs  several  veins  of  3  to  4  feet  in  lime- 
stone; strike  north  and  south;  dip  about  60  degrees  west; 
reported  as  assaying  8  per  cent  copper.  A  tunnel  50  feet  in 
is  run  to  cut  the  vein. 

Kenilworth  No.  1. — Has  vein  on  contact  between  lime  and 
diorite.  In  a  few  small  holes  ore  reported  as  assaying  7  per 
cent  copper  was  found. 

Kenilworth  No.  2. — A  out  of  15  feet  and  a  tunnel  of  45 
feet  have  been  run  on  a  4-foot  vein,  with  granite  foot  and  lime 


INYO  COUNTY — COPPER  MINES  AND  CLAIMS. 


309 


hanfrinj:  w;ill  standing:  almost  vertical.    Ore  reported  as  assay- 
ini;  8  per  cent  copper. 

Pluton. — Shuws  vein  in  open  cut  of  30  feet,  ninning  nearly 
north  and  ca.st ;  continuation  of  Ormonde  vein;  reported  as 
assaying  7  per  cent  copper. 

Ajax. — Open  cut  15  feet;  shaft  12  feet,  with  over  a  foot 
of  ore ;  reported  as  assaying  6  per  cent  copper. 

On    the   rt'sl    of   the   claims   l)iit    little   work    lins   Ixmmi    done. 


POffP/fYR     O/?^         £.  *f^S  aoARTZITE 


•CROSS-SECTION    OF   PROPERTY   OK   THE    INYO   COPPER   MINING   AND 
SMELTING    COMPANY,    UBEHEBE    DISTRICT,    INYO    COUNTY. 

Some  of  them  look  promising,  showing  a  continuation  of  con- 
tacts in  which  ore  has  been  found  in  other  places.  ^Manager, 
R.  G.  Paddock,  Keeler. 

At  the  nortiiern  end  of  the  Uhehebe  ^Mountain  are  located 
some  of  the  older  claims,  on  which  work  has  lately  been 
resumed.     The  SniiLrcr  iiroup  consists  of: 

The  Tip  Top. — Thirty-five  feet  of  tunnel  on  granite-lime 
contact;  H  to  8  feet  of  ore. 

Star. — The  prospect  is  located  at  the  base  of  the  Ubehebe 
Mountain  ;  the  strike  of  the  vein  is  north.  There  is  a  GO-foot 
cut,  6  feet  deep,  showing  malachite.  The  ore  outcrops  800  feet 
■on  the  .strike  and  shows  a  widtli  of  60  feet. 


310  THE  COPPER  RESOURCES  OF  CALIFOKNIA. 

Copper  King. — It  is  located  one  mile  west  of  the  Star; 
owner.  W.  A.  Sanger,  Big  Pine.  The  ledjre  shows  on  the  sur- 
face a  width  of  100  feet  and  a  lenijth  of  700  feet.  There  is  a 
shaft  60  feet  deep  and  a  2()-foot  drift,  showing  malachite. 

The  Prince  Group. — Four  claims.  Crosscut  60  feet,  show- 
ing oxides  and  some  native  copper;  owned  by  W.  A.  Sanger 
&  Son,  Big  Pine,  Cal. 

Bluejay. — Owned  by  A.  ]Mairs,  of  Independence.  It  is 
located  on  tlie  east  side  of  Saline  \'alley.  The  outcroppings 
show  a  ledge  60  feet  wide,  and  may  l)e  traced  500  feet  on  the 
surface.  There  is  a  tunnel  in  100  feet,  a  winze  35  feet  deep, 
and  a  eros'^cnt  25  feet.     Tlie  oi-e  is  malachite  and  chalcocite. 

The  Red  Bird. — Showing  some  native  copper.  F.  A.  ]\Iears, 
Big  Pine. 

Good  Luck  Group. — Three  and  a  half  claims  on  diorite 
dike,  showing  copper  sulphides  and  some  oxides.  R.  Lockhardt 
&  Penrod,  Rhyolite. 

In  the  southern  part  of  the  Ubehebe  ^lountain  a  lead-silver 
vein,  running  north  and  south,  has  been  recently  discovered 
in  the  lime  on  the  AVedding  Stake  claim,  and  a  small  copper 
vein,  with  a  strike  southeast  and  northwest ;  ore  reported  assay- 
ing 35  per  cent  copper,  103  ounces  of  ?ilver,  and  a  little  gold, 
on  the  Red  Bear,  both  owned  l)y  J.  H.  Crook  and  Sam  Baysdon, 
Keeler. 

Several  claims  have  been  located  on  sui'face  indications  by 
Roberts  &  Derat.  and  Woodin  &  INIcConnell. 

Some  geld  and  copper  have  been  discovered  on  the  eastern 
.slope  of  Tin  ]\lountain.  in  the  Dutton  range,  on  the  Lake  View 
claim,  owned  by  W.  1).  Blackman,  Rhyolite. 

W.  Scott  and  ]Mr.  Titus  have  located  twelve  claims  not  far 
from  Dobb's  Spring,  the  ore  carrying  gold,  silver,  lead,  and 
some  copper,  calbnl  the  Scott  group. 

The  Sanger  Group  is  controlled  by  John  Salsbury,  of 
Tonopah,  who  established  the  new  camp  called  Saline  town. 

Some  locations  liave  been  made  on  the  western  slope  of 
the  Inyo  range,  about  five  miles  north  of  Keeler,  in  a  formation 
consisting  i>rincipally  of  phonolyte  of  a  sl"aty  or  schistose 
structure,  very  much  broken  up,  at  an  elevation  of  from  6100 


DAUWIX    LOOKING    SOUTH,    ARGUS    RAXGE    IX    DISTANCE. 


SMELTIXc;    PLANT    AXI>    HOIST    OF    LANE    MINE,    DARWIN, 

INYO    COUNTY. 


312  THE  COPPER  RESOURCES  OF  CALIFORNIA. 

to  6500  feet  above  sea  level.  The  veins  have  a  course  of  south- 
west and  northwest ;  clip  almost  vertical ;  a  ganj;ue  rock  of 
quartz  with  a  little  lime;  ore  mostly  oxidized,  with  some 
sulphides,  copper  glance,  etc. 

The  Rainbow  Claim  is  owned  by  L.  Boshart,  and  the 
Horseshoe  claim  by  Joe  Anselowitch,  Keeler  post  office. 

DARWIN. 

Darwin  is  situated  north  of  36  degrees  latitude,  in  township 
19  south,  range  40  east,  at  the  foot  of  the  western  slope  of  a 
spur  of  the  Argus  range,  which  forms  its  northern  extremity 
and  is  separated  from  its  main  part  by  tiie  Darwin  Canyon, 
through  which  the  drainage  of  Coso  Valley  passes  into  Pana- 
mint  Valley.  About  ten  miles  to  the  west  are  the  Coso 
Mountains,  the  vallev  of  the  same  name  Iving  between  them 
and  the  Argus  range,  and  being  separated  in  the  north  from 
the  Owens  Lake  Basin  by  a  chain  of  low  hills.  The  elevation 
of  the  town  is  4746  feet,  that  of  the  highest  point  of  the  spur 
6190  feet.  The  formation  is  limestone,  overlying  granite, 
penetrated  by  numerous  dik&s  of  porphyritic  rocks  and  diorite. 
At  the  contact  with  these  igneous  rocks,  the  lime  appears 
greatly  altered,  the  blue  color  changes  into  white,  the  texture 
becomes  crystalline,  marble-like,  and  the  increased  hardness 
indicates  a  partial  silicification. 

The  veins  are  found  in  the  contact  or  in  the  lime  close  to 
the  contact,  seldom  in  the  igneous  rocks,  and.  so  far.  never  in 
the  granite.  Tliey  seem  to  have  been  formed  by  replacement, 
the  vein  matter  consisting  of  quartz  and  massive  lime  spar, 
carrying  galena,  carbonate  of  lead,  silver,  a  little  gold,  oxides 
of  iron  and  copper,  but  seldom  their  sulphides.  Only  one 
fossil  has  been  found  in  llu-  liiui'.  apparently  an  orthoceras, 
which  would  indicate  lower  carboniferous,  perhaps  upper 
Silurian. 

Forty  years  ago  Darwin  was  an  imi)ortaut  mining  camp, 
producing  ore  enough  to  keep  several  smelters  in  operation. 
The  mines  were  worked  only  for  their  values  in  lead,  gold,  and 
silver,  and  with  the  gradually  declining  price  of  the  latter 
metal,  and  the  decrease  in  the  grade  of  ore,  they  were  shut 
down  one  after  the  other  and  the  camp  became  almost  deserted. 


INYO  COUNTY — COPPER  MINES  AND  CLAIMS.  313 

No  attempt  was  made  to  utilize  the  copper  ores  until  1898, 
wlieu  a  smelter  was  liuilt  at  the  Lane  mine,  which,  after  a  brief 
but  siu'ce.s.sful  eampaiirn,  in  which  it  is  said  to  have  produced 
.$17.()(MI  woi-th  of  eopper  matte,  shut  down  permanently.  Quite 
recently,  the  copper  prospeets  l)ej;an  to  attract  attention,  and 
the  work  of  exploration  has  already  commenced.  Some  of  the 
old  mines  will  resume  operations,  anil,  ti»  ail  appearances,  the 
camp  will  enter  a  new  era  of  activity. 

The  camp  has  a  good  supply  of  water,  and  is  distant  from 
the  nearest  railroad  .station.  Kcrlcr.  oidy  2")  miles.  .Most  oi" 
the  ores  near  Darwin  carry  a  little  copjx'i-.  and  there  are 
num(>rous  outcrops  of  eo])]ier  veins  on  wliich  not  enoutih  work 
has  l)een  done  to  determine  the  details,  size,  dip,  etc.  They 
occur  usually  in  lime,  on  or  near  the  contact  with  igneous 
rock,  run  east  and  west,  or  north  and  south,  with  a  steep  dip, 
varying  in  width  from  3  to  6  feet,  occasionally  increasing  to 
several  times  this  measure  Tli(»  ores  are  mostly  oxidized, 
malachite,  chrysocoUa.  and  seldom  azurite  and  cuprite,  occa- 
sionally sidphides  and  little  lead.  All  the  mines  are  located 
in  the  spur  north  of  Darwin  Canyon,  witliin  an  area  of  about 
4  to  C)  miles. 

The  Giroux  Group,  Kio  Tinlo;  seetion  24,  township  10 
south,  range  40  east,  nine  claims.  In  a  lime  ledge,  overlying 
diorite,  are  several  copjier  veins  of  Avhich  three  have  been 
exposed  within  about  loO  feet,  running  east  and  west  and 
dipping  south  into  the  hill  at  a  steep  angle.  A  shaft  has  been 
sunk  in  the  diorite  foot  wall  203  feet,  and  a  crosscut  run  from 
its  bottom  to  the  lime  95  feet,  wliere  work  was  stopped.  The 
outcrop  can  be  traced  along  the  hillsides  for  several  thousand 
feet,  and  a  number  of  holes  sunk  in  it  show  copper  through  the 
entire  distance.    Owner,  Joseph  Giroux,  Los  Angeles. 

Richardson  Group. — Eight  claims  in  section  24,  township 
19  south,  range  40  ea.st.  A  sliaft  was  sunk  103  feet  on  a  4-foot 
vein  in  the  Alameda  claim,  and  a  great  deal  of  ore  was 
extracted. 

On  another  claim  in  Ihe  same  group,  a  100- foot  tunnel  fol- 
lowing a  silver-bearing  vein,  cut  through  a  vein  carrying 
copper,  which  has  not  been  explored.  Owner.  I.  E.  Kidgeway, 
Darwin. 


314  THE  COPPER  RESOURCES  OF  CALIFORNIA. 

Custer  Mine. — In  section  24,  town.ship  19  south,  range  40 
east,  a  lar^e  vein,  runnint;'  east  and  west,  and  which  can  be 
traced  for  several  hundred  feet,  has  been  partly  opened  hy  an 
open  cut.  showing  a  face  of  over  10  feet  of  ore.  In  a  120-foot 
tunnel  below  the  vein  has  not  been  reached.  Owners,  Gorman 
&  Anthony.  Independence. 

Ill  the  same  township  and  range  are  the  following  claims: 

Climax. — Two  veins,  east  aiitl  west;  one  vein,  north  and 
south;  copper,  silver,  lead,  gold.     J.  W.  Clark,  Darwin. 

Winchester  Group. — Five  claims,  three  copper  veins.  Sam 
Brooks,  Independence,  owner. 

Verde. — Copper,  lead,  silver.  Inyo  Copper  Company. 
Darwin. 

Argo  and  Arrov^head  Claims. — Three  claims ;  copper.  Inyo 
Copper  Company,  Darwin. 

Keystone. — Extension  of  Giroux  vein.  Long  &  Clark, 
Darwin,   owners. 

Copper  Alta. — Copper.     Porter  Bros.,  Darwin,  owners. 

Windy  Group. — Three  claims;  copper,  silver,  lead.  Clark 
&:  Long,  owners. 

Madox  Group. — Eleven  claims ;  copper,  silver,  lead.  John 
Adams.  Darwin,  owner. 

All  the  old  mines  to  which  Darwin  owed  its  prosperity  forty 
years  ago,  the  Independence.  Defiance.  Tjucky  Jim.  Promon- 
tory. Liberty  and  Columbia.  Jacka.ss  and  Lane,  carr.\-  a  little 
copper,  or  have  separate  veins  on  their  ground  that  have  l)een 
neglected,  with  the  exception  of  tlie  last  named.  T!ie  Lane 
mine  has  one  shaft  of  700  feet  and  one  incline  of  500  feet,  from 
both  of  which  copper  ore  was  taken,  aiul  smelted  into  matte, 
but  the  ore  gave  out  at  550  feet,  in  the  deep  shaft,  and  mine 
and  smelter  were  shut  down. 

References:  Jul.  A.  Luck.  E.]M. ;  A.  Held,  assayer  and 
chemist;  J.  W.  Clark  and  John  Adams,  of  Darwin. 


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MAP  OF  GRKEX WATER  MIXING   DISTRICT,   IX YO  COUXTY,   CALIFORXIA. 


316  THE  COPPER  RESOURCES  OF  CALIFORNIA. 

BONANZA  GREENWATER  COPPER  CO. 

This  property  is  situated  in  tiie  old  Kestiiiti'  S{)riiii;-s  mining 
district.  Inyo  County,  California,  six  miles  easterly  from 
Willow  Creek,  and  about  ten  miles  westerly  from  the  Tonopah 
and  Tidewater  Railroad.  The  names  of  the  claims  owned  by 
this  company  are  the  Bonanza  and  Bonanza  No.  1.  The  general 
formation  of  this  section  is  lime  and  porjihyry,  the  ledges 
occurriiiii'  botli  as  contact  and  Hssure  veins.  The  main  ledge 
on  these  two  c  laims  varies  from  12  to  80  feet  in  widtli  and  over 
3000  feet  in  length.  In  many  respects  they  are  the  most 
remarkable  croppings  discovered  since  1849.  The  ore  bodies 
rise  above  the  ground  to  a  height  of  20  feet,  solid  bodies  of 
cerrusite.  A  shipment  made  of  these  croppings  taken  wholly 
from  above  the  surface  gave  a  reported  return  of  $21.82  per 
ton,  gold  $4.94,  silver  $1.23.  and  lead  $15.24.  with  some  iron. 

The  ore  lying  next  to  the  porphyry  wall  carries  gold  and 
lead  values,  and  the  ore  next  to  the  lime  wall  carries  gold, 
silver,  lead  and  copper  values.  A  reported  oif er  from  the  same 
smelting  company  for  the  next  shipment  taken  from  the  part 
of  the  ledge  nearest  the  lime  wall  was  given  as  gold  $2.66. 
silver  $1.23,  lead  $27.80,  and  copper  $29.90,  a  total  of  $57.82 
per  ton. 

The  development  consists  of  a  tunnel  72  feet  in  length 
following  the  vein  into  the  mountain,  all  in  carbonate  of  lead 
with  streaks  of  galena  all  through  it,  also  two  shafts  about  20 
feet  in  depth.  The  gold  values  reported  increase  from  $2,  20 
feet  above  the  surface,  to  $12.40  at  the  surface,  and  the  ore 
in  Ihc  face  of  the  tunnel  pans  free  gold. 

A  fine  auto  and  wagon  road  has  been  built  from  the  mine 
over  the  mountains  to  the  old  Daggett  and  Furnace  Creek 
road  at  an  expense  of  $6000.  The  elevation  of  this  property 
is  4064  feet. 

A  fine  spring  of  water  has  been  discovered  about  a  mile 
and  a  half  easterly  from  the  mine  and  about  1500  feet  above  it. 
This  can  be  carried  by  gravity  to  the  mine. 

Tliere  are  about  twenty  claims  in  this  section  that  are 
similar  to  the  two  described  above,  and  owned  by  other  parties.* 


*  From  company's   report. 


»v.* 


>f-i 


L_ 


AIKiiO 


/ 


■  i  ■ 


<^     /^"^-^ 


MAP    OF   MINING   DISTRICT   IN   IMMEDIATE   VICINITY   OF    GREENWATER,   INYO   COUNTY,    CALIFORNIA. 

STATR  MTNING   RIUlRAr 


INYO  COUNTY — COPPER  MINES  AND  CLAIMS. 


317 


GREENWATER  MINING  DISTRICT. 

Tills  district  is  situated  uortli  of  tlic  thirty-sixth  degree  of 
latitude,  in  the  western  part  of  the  Funeral  rantre.  wliidi  forms 
the  eastern  huumhiry  of  Death  Valley  soutli  of  l-'uniaee  Creek, 
and  is  named  Black  .Mountains  on  some  maps.  While  the 
eastern  .section,  with  Myrnmid  IN'jik'  as  the  hiulicst  point,  con- 
sists of  sedimentary  rocks,  who.se  strata,  raised  u})  vertically, 


OUTCROP  NEAR  GREENWATER.  DEATH  VALLEY,  GREENWATER 

COPPER  COMPANY. 

jrives  the  mountains  a  peculiar  I)anded  ai)pearancc,  the  western 
ridire  consists  entirely  of  if^meous  rocks,  granite,  porphyry, 
I'lix'olite.  andesite,  diorite,  etc..  with  occasional  dikes  of  trap 
(diaba.se.  basalt,  commonly  called  lava),  and  one  of  the  highest 
mountains  is  formed  entirely  of  this  eruptive  rock.  Sedimen- 
tary rocks  are  only  found  on  the  western  slope,  exposed  in  the 
gulches  running  down  to  Death  Valley. 

The  eastern  and  western  portions  of  the  Funeral  ^Mountains 
are  separated  by  a  shallow  valley  running  nortli  from  Hrcon- 


Th. 


^ 


V 


^ 


Af 


,=i_i 


INYO  COUNTY — COPPER  MIXES  AND  CLAIMS. 


317 


GREENWATER  MINING  DISTRICT. 

This  district  is  situated  north  of  the  thirty-sixth  dejurree  of 
latitude,  in  the  western  part  of  the  Funeral  rantre.  which  forms 
the  eastern  boundary  of  Death  Valley  south  of  Furiiace  Creek, 
and  is  named  Black  Mountains  on  some  maps.  While  the 
eastern  section,  with  Pyramid  Peak  as  the  hi^diest  point,  con- 
sists of  sedimentary  roi  ks.  wiiose  strata,  raised  ui)  vertically, 


•->■"» 

''W^' 

^^^m^m- 

\3' 

m 

^^^^^^^^^B^^^E!S^^^ 

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^r  "^ ' '"^^^l^^^^^l 

1 

OUTCROP  NEAR  GREENWATER,  DE.\TH  VALLEY, 

COPPER  COMPANY. 


GREENWATER 


jrives  the  mountains  a  peculiar  Ijanded  appearance,  the  western 
ridije  consists  entirely  of  igneous  rocks,  granite,  porphyry, 
rhyolite,  andesite,  diorite,  etc.,  with  occasional  dikes  of  trap 
(diabase,  basalt,  commonly  called  lava),  and  one  of  the  highest 
mountains  is  formed  entirely  of  this  eruptive  rock.  Sedimen- 
tary rocks  are  only  found  on  the  western  slope,  exposed  in  the 
gulches  running  down  to  Death  Valley. 

The  eastern  and  western  portions  of  the  Funeral  ^Mountains 
are  separated  by  a  shallow  valley  running  north  from  Green- 


:ns 


TIIK  COPPER  RESOURCES  OP  CALIFORNIA. 


i 

V: 


wjitiT  and  ciidiim  in  tlie  Furnace  Creek 
Canyon,  wliicli.  turning  west,  opens 
into  Death  Valley.  Its  total  lenpfth  is 
twenty-four  juiles,  and  the  ditt'ereuee 
in  elevation  hetween  its  termination 
and  its  beoinnin<i'  is  about  4000  feet. 
The  summit  of  the  western  ridge  rises 
.■)()()()  feet  above  sea  level.  l)ut  some  of 
the  peaks  attain  a  greater  height,  prob- 
al)ly  ()()()()  or  more,  a  difference  of  1000 
to  2000  feet,  between  the  level  of  the 
valley,  within  a  distance  of  abont  five 
to  six  miles,  giving  a  moderate  grade 
to  the  eastern  slope.  The  bottom  of 
Death  Valley  on  the  west  sinks  to  276 
feet  below  sea  level,  and  there  is  a 
drop  of  5000  to  6000  feet  within  ten 
miles  or  less,  which  results  in  an  ex- 
ceedingly rough  country,  with  sharp 
ridges,  steep  slopes,  precipices  and 
deep,  rugged  canyons. 

]\rost  of  the  mines  are  located  on  the 
eastern  slope  within  an  area  of  about 
twenty  miles  long  by  ten  miles  wide, 
and  the  ore  is  found  in  dikes  of  sili- 
cious  iron,  often  forming  outcrops  of 
considerable  width,  which  traverse  the 
hills  in  various  directions.  Within 
these  dikes  occur  the  veins  of  ore, 
usually  not  sharply  defined,  so  that  it 
has  become  customary  to  call  the  entire 
mineralized  dike  a  vein.  The  on'  bear- 
ing (like  usually  merges  imperceptibly 
into  the  country  rock,  but  sometimes 
th(>  walls  are  distinctly  developed,  with 
smooth,  polished  faces. 

The  ore,  with  rare  exceptions,  con- 
sists of  oxides  of  copper,  principally 
malachite,  chrysocalla,  some  azurite, 
cuprite  and  melaconite.  It  is  probable 
that    oxidized   ores    will    prevail,    to    a 


INVO  COI   NTV — COI'l'ER   MINES  A.\[)   CLAIMS. 


319 


>,'i-fal  ilt'ptli.  because  an  artesian  bore  Imlc  lias  shown  the  water 
to  be  below  i)()0  feet. 

The  existence  of  copper  in  (Ireenwater.  whieli  takes  its  name 
from  a  water  lioh'  near  by.  has  l)een  known  for  a  lonii;  time — it 
is  cbiiineil  ovei-  fifty  years  air"».  when  a  party  of  eniifii;rants 
perished  in  Death  X'alley.  But  at  that  time  such  ore  was 
worthh'ss.    and    tlie    camp    remained    comparatively    unknown 


Ql'EEN   No.   2.  GKKK.NW  A  I  1;K   liKAlll   \"ALLfc:V  CuPPKK  CuAIPAiN  V. 

IXYO    CorXTV. 

until  February.  IDOfi.  when  Arthur  Kunze,  Frank  [McAllister, 
and  Hank  Kniiiht.  the  pioneers  of  (Jreenwater.  arrived  and 
took  up  some  claims.  At  the  same  time  P.  Clark  sent  out  some 
prospectors  who  located  the  Furnace  Creek  property,  and  sunk 
the  first  .shaft.  In  July  of  the  same  year  Arthur  Kunze  suc- 
ceeded in  interestintr  Charles  Schwait.  li.  A.  Parkhurst.  M.  ^I. 
]\Icl)onald.  and  Donald  (Jillies.  and  fi-om  lliat  time  dates  the 
later  period  of  active  exploration.  In  January.  1907,  the 
first  camp,   "Kunze,"  was  moved   two   miles  farther  east  to 


320 


THE  COPPER  RESOURCES  OF  CALIFORNIA. 


Ramsey  and  calk-d  Greenwater;  but  four  miles  northwest  from 
the  hitter  a  new  cauii)  called  Furnace  sprung  up. 

Greenwater.  tiic  [)riiiii|)al  camp  and  post  office,  lies  almost 
due  east  from  Telescope  Peak  in  the  Panamint  range,  on  the 
gently  inclined  eastern  slope  of  the  Funeral  range,  4315  feet 
above  sea  level.  T1  cm  lie  reached  by  stage  from  Zabriskie,  on 
the    Tonopah-Tidt'watci'    Hailrcad.    thirty    miles    south,    from 


■'^'.  ,  .^ 


r> 


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^^ 


''^'■M^ 


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^>^- 


j_t^ 


QUEEX    No.     :^.    CREENWATKK    DIOATII    VALLEY    COPPER    MINING 
COMPANY,    GREENWATER.    INYO    COUNTY'. 

Amargosa,  a  station  on  the  Salt  Lake-Los  Angeles  Railroad^, 
fifty  miles  east;  and  from  Rhyolite  l)y  automobile. 

In  May,  1907,  the  mines  were  still  in  the  prospective  state; 
most  of  the  companies  did  not  attempt  to  take  out  ore,  because 
it  was  their  intention  to  prospect  at  great  depth  and  commence 
drifting  at  500  feet  oi-  more.  Only  one  shipment  liad  been 
made  at  that  time.  Thirteen  shafts  were  equipped  with  gaso- 
line hoists,  six  of  the  Greenwater  Death  Vallev  ^Mining  and 
IMilling  Company;  two  of  the  Furnace  Creek  Company;  one 
of  tlie  Furnace  Valley  ^Mining  Com]iany;  one  of  the  Butte 
Furnace  Range  Company;  one  of  the  ITank  Knight  Company: 


\ii:\\  .)i'  i>i;A'ni  \.\m-i:v.  ixvo  coi'xtv.  i^'rom  funeral  rax(;e. 


PAXAMINT   RANGE  AND   DEATH   VALLEY.    FROM   SUMMIT   OF 
FUNERAL   RANGE.    INYO   COUNTY. 

21— HlL.   50 


322  THE  COPPER  RESOURCES  OF  CALIFORNIA. 

one  of  the  Red   Bay  Copper  Company ;  one  of  tlie  Saratoga 
Copi^er  Coni])aiiy. 

The  Greenwater  Death  Valley  Copper  Company. — Tliis 
represents  a  consolidatidn  of  a  numljer  of  })rop<'rli»'s  willi  an 
area  of  about  two  hundred  claims,  or  4000  acres.  The  offices 
are  located  near  the  old  camp  Kunze.  about  two  miles  from 
town,  and  Terry  Rourke  has  charge  of  the  property.  Elevation, 
4600  to  4800  feet.  The  six  shafts  fitted  with  gasoline  hoists 
are  on  the  following  claims: 

(Jlance  No.  2.  vein  of  12  feet;  north  65  degrees  east;  dip  70 
degrees  south  ;  depth. 400  feet. 

Queen  No.  :1  vein  of  50  feet;  north  45  degre&s  east;  dip  70 
degrees  south  ;  depth  400  feet. 

Queen  Xo.  2.  vein  of  50  feet;  west-east;  dip  80  degrees 
north ;  depth  500  feet. 

Glance  Xo.  5.  vein  of  100  feet ;  north  65  degrees  east ;  dip  70 
degrees  south ;  depth  250  feet. 

Wanda,  vein  north  25  degrees  east;  depth  100  feet. 

Siieenlator.  vein  northwest-southeast ;  dip  northeast ;  depth 
30  feet. 

Close  to  the  old  town  is  located  the  Hank  Knight  group  on 
an  iron  outcrop  showing  .some  ore. 

The  Furnace  Creek  Copper  Company's  properly  is  located 
near  Furnace  Camp.  A  strong  vein  runs  through  the  property 
from  southwest-northeast,  on  which  a  shaft  and  incline  have 
been  sunk.  The  latter  on  llic  .Matte  claim,  185  feet  deep;  the 
shaft.  550  feet  deep,  cutting  throuuh  the  vein,  is  on  the  Copper 
Blue,  500  feet  distant.  The  one  and  oidy  shipment  made  from 
Greenwater  came  from  these  two  ^\•orkings.  It  consisted  of  two 
lots,  reported  as  assaying  18  per  cent  and  22  per  cent  in  copper. 

Adjoining  lies  the  property  of  the  Furnace  Valley  Company, 
Avith  a  shaft  250  feet  deep  on  a  large  vein.  The  offices  of  both 
companies  are  in  Spokane,  Washington.  I.  P.  Harvey  is  the 
manager. 

A  little  further  to  the  nortli  a  deep  canyon  cuts  through  the 
Funeral  range  into  Death  Valley,  and  on  the  mountain  form- 
ing its  southern  slope  an  iiuinensc  iron  outcrop  can  be  traced 
for  several  miles.  On  the  eastern  part  of  this  dike  is  located 
the  jiroperty  of  the  Clark  Copper  Company :  on  the  western 


INVO  (orNTV — lOIM'KR   MINKS  AM)   tl.AIMS. 


323 


the  ( laiins  l»el(m«riii^'  to  tin*  Kcinplaiul  Copper  Company.  A 
lutmlxT  of  prospect  holes  sunk  all  alouii-  the  dike  have  exposed 
ore.  and  on  tlie  Clark  property  a  shaft  has  been  sunk  70  feet 

on  the  vein,  and  a  tunnel  h;is  1 n  started  to  crosscut  the  vein 

at  irreater  depth. 

Ou  the  Kenipland.  a  tunnel  has  heen  run  on  the  Death 
Valley  side,  which,  it  is  claimed,  cut  a  vein  30  feet  wide  at  280 
feet. 


GHJOKNWATKK. 

The  otlHccs  of  both  (•uiii|)ani('s  arc  in  Los  Angeles.  I.  P. 
Ilarvey  has  char<ire  of  the  property. 

The  Butte  Furnace  Range  Company,  east  of  the  Furnace 
Valley  claim,  has  |)ut  up  a  gasoline  Jioist :  the  shaft  is  down 
120  feet. 

South  of  Greenwater.  about  a  mile,  is  the  Greenwater  Red 
Boy.  showintr  ore  on  the  surface.     The  shaft  is  down  450  feet. 

The  Saratoga,  half  a  mile  farther  south,  also  showed  some 
ore  on  the  surface.     The  shaft  reached  500  feet. 


324  THE  COPPER  RESOURCES  OP  CALIFORNIA. 

East  Greenwater  Copper  Company,  claims  located  about 
eight  miles  from  Greenwater  in  hills  east  of  valley.  Incline 
sunk  on  large  vein.     George  Badget,  manager. 

Vindicator  Copper  Mining  Company's  property  close  to 
the  preceding.  Good  surface  showings.  Greenwater  Broker- 
age Company. 

Calumet  and  Hecla,  on  the  north  side  of  deep  canyon 
north  of  Furnace.    Keported  to  have  struck  good  ore  in  tunnel. 

Copper  King,  about  six  miles  northwest  of  Furnace  on 
Death  Valley  slope.  .Copper  outcrop  on  surface ;  started  tunnel 
on  slope  to  intercept  vein. 

Greenwater  Black  Jack,  southwest  of  town;  80-foot  shaft 
sunk  on  outcrop.     T.  D.  ^Ic Donald,  superintendent. 

Greenwater  Copper  Mining  Company,  Arthur  Kunze,  presi- 
dent. 

Pittsburg  Greenwater  Copper  Company,  twenty-five  miles 
south  of  Greenwater.  Good  surface  showings.  C.  S.  Johnson, 
secretary,  Goldfield,  Nevada. 

South  Greenwater  Copper  Company,  fifteen  miles  south  of 
Greenwater.    Good  surface  showings.   ]\lalcolm  Smith,  manager. 

Willow  Creek  Camp  is  situated  south  of  Greenwater, 
eighteen  miles  by  road,  ten  hy  trail;  4880  feet  al)Ove  sea  level; 
at  the  head  of  a  gulch  running  into  Death  Valley. 

The  Arcturas  Copper  Company,  has  sunk  a  shaft  in  a  lime 
formation  occurring  in  a  porphyritic  igneous  rock,  and  carry- 
ing oxides  and  sulphides  of  copper  in  irregular  bodies.  T.  L. 
Oddie,  president.  Tonopah. 

Donaldson  &  Company,  working  on  a  copper  outcrop  in 
porphyry,  struck  a  vein  carrying  galena,  and  silver,  besides 
copper. 

Robicheau  &  Cox  report  discovering  a  vein  of  sulphides  and 
are  prospecting  a  dike  of  specular  iron. 

North  of  AVillow  Creek  lies  a  deep  and  rugged  canyon. 
Sheep  Creek,  where  copper  suljihides  have  been  found  on  the 
contact  between  a  dolomitic  lime  foot  and  a  schist  hanging 
wall  carrying  also  oxides  witli  tremolite,  lime  spar,  epidote 
and  pyroxene  in  the  gangue  rock. 


s\V    lUK'V  \Ivl>IN(>    CtilNIV.  'o2o 


SAN  BERNARDINO  COUNTY. 


Soulln'.ist  of  the  terminus  of  the  Sierra  Nevada  Mountain 
rani;e  is  the  vast  expanse  of  the  Mo.jave  Desert,  a  rugg«.'(i. 
(h'sohite  region,  tilled  with  niountiiin  groups  and  ranges  and 
eharaeterized  hy  a  laek  of  ahnost  every  natural  eondition 
favorable  to  the  operations  of  the  prospector  and  miner,  hul 
one  throughout  whieh  nature  has  lavishly  distributed  mineral 
riehes  in  exceptional  variety.  Copper  is  one  of  the  minerals 
thus  widely  distributed  here.  l)ut  its  innumerable  occurrences 
are  generally,  as  far  as  explored,  in  (|uantities  too  small  fnr 
ennuiiereial  exploitation. 

The  largest  portion  of  the  Mo.iave  Desert  is  included  within 
the  bounds  of  San  Hernardino  County,  which  is  the  largest 
county  in  the  State.  In  the  southwestern  portion  is  a  region 
unrivaled  for  beauty  of  fruits  and  flowers,  fertile  and  charm- 
ing valleys,  and  rich  orange  groves.  Eastward  from  this  Eden. 
for  about  loO  miles  to  the  Colorado  River,  and  northward  for 
7.")  miles  to  Inyo  County,  stretch  the  forl)idding  wastes  that 
compose  the  most  of  San  Bernardino  County.  It  is  in  the  little 
southwestern  corner,  where  sheltered  valleys  open  to  the  sea, 
that  tlie  population  and  developed  wealth  of  the  county  are 
maiidy  concentrated,  and  it  is  by  this  corner  that  San  Ber- 
nardino is  chiefly  known  to  the  world. 

The  rest  of  the  county  is  ruled  by  the  miner.  Prospectors 
have  persistently  explored  its  desolate  and  dangerous  fast- 
nesses for  two  generations  and  l)rought  to  general  knowledge 
a  mineral  empire  which  capital  is  slowly  possessing.  There 
ai-e  few  long  well-defined  belts  or  lodes,  the  multitudinous 
mineral-lx^arimr  veins  coursing  in  all  directions  and  being  gen- 
erally and  irregularly  distributed.  There  is  a  number  of  well- 
known  mining  districts  scattered  through  the  length  and 
breadth  of  the  county,  where  concentrations  of  mineral  values 
have  occasional  important  developments,  and  in  which  well- 
known  mines  flourish.  The  metalliferous  ores  carried  by  the 
veins  are  nearly  always  base.  Gold  is  the  dominant  metal  pro- 
duced, but  with  a  more  favorable  market  for  silver,  the  latter 


326  THE  COPPER  RESOURCES  OF  CALIFORNIA. 

W()\il(l  probalily  assunic  first  importance.  In  1907  the  uold 
output  was  .$158,676  and  that  of  silver  .$81.33!).  The  county, 
liowever.  displays  a  yreater  variety  of  mineral  products  than 
any  other  eoiuity  in  the  State.  In  its  northern  portion  are 
inexhaustil)le  deposits  of  borax,  the  chief  i)resent  mineral 
product  of  the  county,  the  output  of  which  in  1907.  refined  and 
crude,  was  valued  at  about  $1,000,000.  The  only  tin  mine  of 
the  State  was  operated  in  this  county  a  few  years  ayo.  In 
this  county  is  an  exceptionally  large  and  rich  deposit  of  iron 
ore  awaiting  conditions  favorable  to  its  exploitation.  One  of 
the  countj^'s  mineral^  products  is  turquoise,  of  which  $20,000 
worth  was  mined  in  1900.  At  Colton.  Portland  cement  is 
made.  Among  other  minerals  are  lead.  salt.  soda,  antimony, 
sulphur,  asbestos,  onyx  (aragonite),  lime,  granite,  and  marl)le. 
There  has  been  much  activity  in  various  gold  mining  districts. 
The  county  is  crossed  by  the  main  line  of  the  Santa  Fe  Railroad, 
and  branch  roads  reach  different  i)arts  of  the  county.  The 
Southern  Pacific  road  runs  through  and  near  the  southwestern 
portion. 

AVhile  the  occurrences  of  copper  ore  are  frequent  and  wide- 
spread, there  are  yet  but  few  mines  or  prospects  worthy  of 
particular  note,  or  which  attract  present  attention.  But.  as 
with  other  resources  of  this  great  mineral  field,  there  has  been 
but  a  small  beginning  made  in  the  prospecting  and  developing 
of  the  copper  stored  in  these  rugged  wastes,  though  there  is 
a  great  number  of  more  or  less  promising  copper  claims  show- 
ing superficial  development. 

The  Copper  World. — This  is  the  chief  developed  and  pro- 
ducing mine  in  the  county.  It  is  equipped  with  a  smelting 
plant.  A  few  years  ago  considerable  high-grade  ore  was  shipped 
to  Swansea  from  the  Tiptop  mine  in  the  Lava  Beds  district,  a 
silver  mine  in  which  bunches  of  rich  copper  ore  were  found 
along  fault  planes  in  the  country  rock.  This  ore.  after  con- 
centration by  jigging,  yielded  33  per  cent  of  copper  and  15 
ounces  of  silver  per  ton.  The  prevalent  copper  ores  of  this 
region  are  carbonates  and  oxides,  and  characteristically  occur 
in  irregularly  shaped  masses,  frecpiently  in  association  with 
limestone  formations. 


SAN    HKKNAKniNO    CorNTV — COl'PKK    CLAIMS. 


:i27 


Copper  World.— This  mine  is  locati-d  in  riark  :M<)un1:iiii. 
Clark  .Miiiiim  District,  towiisliip  Hi  north,  raiiiic  Vi  cast, 
twenty  niih'.s  from  Ivan|)ah.  the  terminus  of  a  Itranch  of  the 
Atchison.  Topeka.  and  Santa  Fe.  l.-avin-j;  the  main  iin.-  at 
(ioft^'s  station.  Fdevation  .'):{(!()  feel.  It  consists  of  a  l.n.ad 
minerali/ed  zone.  traversin>j:  a  low  ridyrc  extendin<r  from  tli.' 
main  mountain  ahout  a  mile  in  a  soutlieily  direction.  lyin«r 
between   lime  on  the  north  and   porphyry  on  the  south.     Ttir 


COPPER    WORLD    MINE.    CL.\RK    MINING    DISTRICT.    S.A.N 
BERNARDINO    COUNTY. 

lime  is  cd"  a  lii;ht  eoloi-  near  the  ore  and  l)lue  farther  away  from 
it.  The  minerald)earin.ir  zone,  ovei-  :{<>()  feet  wide  in  places, 
consists  of  iron,  silica,  decomposed  portions  of  the  inclosintr 
rocks  and  veins  of  copper  ore.  mostly  oxides,  malachite  lari^-ely 
])redominatin^^  South  of  the  i)ori)hyry  lime  i^  found  ai;ain 
and  copper  has  been  traced  throu^di  the  entire  lentith  of  the 
ridge.  On  the  eastern  slope  the  deposit  has  been  extensively 
•worked  on  llie  surface,  from  the  top  of  the  rid^re  to  the  bottom 
of  the  'Milch,  a  vertical  distance  of  not  more  than  loO  feet.     Nnt 


328  THE  COPPER  RESOURCES  OF  CALIFORNIA. 

far  from  the  bottom  a  vertical  shaft  has  l)een  sunk  180  feet 
on  a  5-foot  vein  of  ore.  niakintr  the  trreatest  depth  attained 
aliout  300  feet  below  the  onterop  on  top  of  the  ridue.  Besides 
the  extensive  surface  workings,  which  give  the  slope  the  appear- 
ance of  a  (piarry,  there  are  several  tunnels  of  considerable 
length  and  many  drifts,  stopes,  winzes,  etc.,  which  combined 
nndoiibtedly  represent  several  thousand  feet  of  work. 

The  property  was  formerly  owned  liy  the  Ivanpah  Smelting 
Company,  of  Los  Angeles,  which  liuilt  a  smelter  at  Valley  Wells, 
about  five  miles  southwest*  of  the  mine,  where  the  ore  Mas 
reduced  and  black  copper  of  about  98  per  cent  produced  in 
one  operation.  It  is  stated  that  the  total  value  of  copper 
shipped  from  this  plant  was  about  $750,000,  ])ut  that  the  cost 
of  smelting  and  the  losses  in  the  slag  were  too  great  to  make 
the  enterprise  profitable,  and  mine  and  smelter  were  shut  down 
and  remained  idle  for  some  time.  Dr.  L.  D.  (lodshall  in  1907 
acquired  title  to  the  property  and  organized  the  Coeopah 
]\lining  Company,  which  is  operating  the  mine  at  the  present 
time.  D.  ]\Iurphy,  Los  Angeles,  is  president;  L.  D.  (lodshall. 
Needles,  general  manager  of  the  company. 

All  the  ore  from  the  mine  is  hauled  by  teams  to  Ivanpah  and 
shipped  to  the  smelter  at  Needles.  It  averages  without  being 
assorted,  it  is  reported,  from  6  per  cent  to  10  per  cent  copper. 
Production  is  limited  l)y  the  capacity  of  the  smelter,  and  will 
be  increased.  A  much  larger  force  of  men  tlian  employed  at 
present  could  be  used  to  advantage  as  soon  as  the  increased 
output  can  be  handled.  There  are  good  accommodations  at  the 
mine,  but  the  water  has  to  be  hauled  a  distance  of  nine  miles. 

About  two  miles  south,  in  another  low  spur  of  Clark  ^NFoun- 
tain.  is  located  the  ]\Iohawk.  sliowing  a  strong  vein  of  over 
10  feet  between  a  hanging  wall  of  lime  and  a  foot  wall  of 
por])hyry.  strike  northwest-soutlieast :  dip  almost  vertical, 
sliglitlx'  inclined  north(»ast.  Cliaracter  of  ore  the  same  as  in 
the  Copper  World,  bul  canying  more  azurite.  There  are 
several  hundred  feet  of  tunnels,  drifts,  etc..  on  this  vein,  and 
Avork  will  undoubtedly  be  resumed  in  the  future.  The  prop- 
erty lielongs  to  the  Coeopah  Company. 

On  a  parallel  ridge  west  of  the  Copper  World,  G.  Hamp- 
stead,  of  Manvel.  has  sunk  an  incline  75  feet  on  a  copper  vein 
from  which  a  reported  shipment  of  13  per  cent  ore  has  been 
made. 


MXNVKL      S\X     I'.KRXARDINO    COUNTY.     NKW     YORK    MOL'NTAINS 

IN  Tino   nrsTAXCB. 


SMELTER  AT  NEEDLES.  SAN  BERNARDINO  COUNTY. 


330  'I'lii':  COPPER  iu;s()rRCES  of  cami'okxia. 

About  seven  miles  northeast,  in  township  Kl  north,  ran<ie  15 
east,  is  situated  the  ohl  Ivanpah  c'o|)per  niinc.  oix-i-atcd  hy  a 
French  conipanv,  and  shipping'  some  ore. 

Located  in  the  same  district  is  the  i)roper1y  of  tlie  .Manvel 
]\Iinin>i'  Coni|)anv.  haviin:  a  loO-foot  shaft  on  a  vein  i-eporlcd 
as  eaiTviim'  10  jx-r  eeid  copix-i-.  Owners.  X'ieloi-  Marsli  and 
Di".  E.  D.  King,  Pasadena,  and  S.  Norman,  of  Spokane. 

Ivanpah  Mammoth,  in  the  Ivanpaii  .Mountains.  al)out  five 
miles  from  Ivanpah.  townsliip  15  noi'th.  i-ant^f  14  east,  two 
veins,  one  silver  and  copper,  the  other  eo])pei-  and  Liohl:  sliaft 
down  100  feet. 

Copper  King-,  twelve  miles  from  Ivanpah.  Both  belong  to 
the  Quartette  Company,  of  Searchlight. 

Standard  Mining  Company,  claims  located  in  same  district, 
have  shipped  some  copper  ore. 

Leastalk  Gold  and  Copper  Company. — Two  shafts,  each  150 
feet  in  limestone.  Ore  contains  silver,  copper,  lead,  and  a  little 
g-old. 

The    Arizona-Mexican    Mining    and    Smelting    Company, 

Needles.  This  com[)an,\',  i)ract  ically  consisting  of  the  same 
parties  as  the  Cocopah  Coni|)any.  was  organized  a  few  years 
ago,  bought  out  the  Fletcher  Smelting  Company,  and  erected 
a  new  plant  on  the  site  of  I  he  old  one.  less  than  a  mile  north- 
west of  Needles,  on  the  bank  ot  the  Colorado  Hiver.  The 
plant  consists  of  one  lead  I'urnaci-.  one  co|)pei'  fuinace,  one 
roastiuL;  furnace,  crusher  and  sampling  tioor.  assay  and  Liciieral 
office.  The  lead  furnace  is  120  by  42  inclies.  witli  six  water- 
jackets,  one  in  front,  one  in  rear,  and  two  on  each  side.  l)oslied : 
automatic  lead  well;  eight  tnyei-es  on  each  side;  sheet-iron 
hood  and  pipe  descending  into  dust  chamber.  This  type  of 
furnace  is  known  as  a  100-ton  furnace,  jdthoutili  it  can  attain 
this  capacit.N'  oidy  with  exceptionally  fa\'oral)le  ores.  The 
cop])ei'  fnriKice  consists  of  an  oval  ii'on  watei'-jacket  from  the 
crucible  to  the  feed  floor  (14  feet  above),  !)(>  by  'M\  inches,  with 
ten  tuyeres  and  ii'oii  hood,  the  same  as  the  lead  fiiiaiace.  Not- 
withstanditig  its  smaller  size,  its  capacity  i.s  greater  tlian  that 
of  the  lead  furnace,  owing  to  the  faster  smelting  of  copper  ore. 
The  roasting  furnace  is  of  the  M(d)ouuall  pattern,  a  huge  iron 


&;VN    BERN.\KI>IXO   OUNTY — COI'PKR    CLAIMS.  '.VM 

cylinder,  nearly  :{((  leet  liiL'li.  with  six  separate  eoniparliiieiils 
all  eoimeeted.  The  fireplace  i.s  under  the  lowest  one.  hut  eoal 
has  hoen  snhstitnted  hy  oil.  and  two  i)ipes  furnish  the  necessary 
fuel.  The  ore  is  charirt'd  from  ahove.  a  vejMical  shaft  rotatin^^ 
in  the  center,  fui'nished  with  arms  to  which  blades  are  attached, 
keeps  stirrinir  the  pulp  and  movinir  it  continually  from  one 
compartiiieiit  In  tiic  other  initil  it  drtijts  out  ri-um  the  last  one. 
bein^  finished.  This  i-oaster  drives  y:real  satisfaction  and  forms 
a  very  essential  part  of  the  plant,  because  the  ores  treated  are 
mostly  sulphides,  and  most  of  the  iron  recpiired  for  fluxing 
is  ol)tained  In-  i-oastin*;  pyrites.  Incidentally,  a  little  copper 
matte  is  obtained  from  the  lead  furnace,  but  the  bulk  of  the 
copper  ore  is  smelted  by  itself  in  the  special  furnace,  however 
in  a  manner  diffei'ent  from  the  process  used  at  the  Valley 
Wells  smelter.  Xo  attempt  is  made  to  obtain  metallic  copper 
directly  from  snieltinir  the  oxides,  because  it  has  been  found 
that  this  metliod  entails  too  j;reat  a  loss  in  the  slay:  and  that  it 
is  more  advantageous  to  save  the  copper  values  in  form  of 
matte.  Sufificienl  sulphides  aii"  therefore  added  to  the  oxidized 
coi)per  ores  to  produce  a  hiy:h-<i:rade  matte,  which  is  shipped 
ea.st  for  further  treatment.  The  remarkal)le  success  of  this 
smelter,  under  the  manatrement  of  L.  1).  (iodshall.  demon- 
strates the  irreat  ailvantaiies  Needles  oft'ei's  as  a  site  for  reduc- 
tion works.  It  is  the  center  of  a  laryc  minim:  district, 
comprising:  part  of  Ai-izona.  (".difornia.  and  even  Nevada,  and 
containin«r  a  izreat  variety  oi'  oi-es  cai'rxiuu  the  constituents 
es.sential  for  successfid  smeltin<r. 

The  New  York  Moinitains  ai-e  situated  al.ont  four  miles 
southwest  of  Mauvil.  in  tf)wnship  14  north,  i-anye  11  east. 
They  consist  chiefly  of  •rranite  and  lime,  and  their  hi<;hest 
peaks  attain  an  altitude  of  about  7000  feet.  Several  veins 
have  been  found  on  the  contact  of  lijue  atid  irranite,  carrying 
sulphide  of  iron,  copper,  and  zinc,  in  a  iranirne  rock  of  rpiartz. 
lime  spai"  and  fluor  spar,  etc.  with  ^old  and  silver  as  principal 
values,  and  .some  lead  and  copper.  O.  Ilampstead  has  run 
several  hundred  feet  of  tunnel  on  a  vein  of  this  kind,  about 
five  miles  from  Manvel. 

New  York  Mine.  By  far  tlw  best  known  and  most  impor- 
tant property  is  the  New  York  mine,  located  on  the  southern 
slope  of  the  mountains.     Twenty-five  years  aoro  it  was  owned 


332  THE  COPPER  RESOL'RCES  OF  CALIFORNIA. 

by  A.  K.  Hlake,  of  Denver,  Colorado,  who  l)uilt  the  railroad 
from  Goft'  to  IManvel  for  the  purpose  of  haulinjr  the  ore  from 
that  mine.  Although  he  had  made  large  shipments  of  high- 
grade  ore,  as  it  is  claimed,  the  proceeds  were  not  sufficient  for 
the  great  expense ;  he  was  compelled  to  suspend  operations,  and 
finally  road  and  mine  passed  out  of  his  hands.  For  many 
years  the  mine  remained  idle,  until  the  property  was  bought  by 
X.  P.  and  II.  T.  Sloan,  who  organized  the  Sagamore  Alining 
Company,  with  headquarters  in  Philadelphia.  S.  'SI.  Connelly 
is  superintendent  at  the  mine. 

The  proi)erty  consists  of  eight  claims,  located  on  both  sides 
of  a  deep,  narrow  canj^on,  the  lower  workings  being  at  an 
elevation  of  5840  feet.  The  walls  of  the  canyon  consist  of 
phonolite,  and  all  the  veins  are  located  in  this  rock.  They 
are  generally  well  defined  and  easily  traced  on  both  sides  of 
the  canyon,  rising  in  many  places  like  walls  above  the  surface. 
Four  veins  are  known  on  this  property,  all,  with  the  exception 
of  one,  having  a  strike  southwest  by  northeast,  and  an  almost 
vertical  dip.  The  gangue  rock  is  quartz,  carrying  sulphides 
or  iron,  copper,  zinc,  antimony,  and  lead,  with  some  oxides  of 
copper,  rhodoclirosite.  and.  probably,  some  arsenides.  The 
first  vein  encountered  from  the  south  runs  almost  north  and 
south ;  the  ore  consists  of  mixed  sulphides,  and.  perhaps, 
arsenides,  resembling  gray  copper  in  appearance,  running  often 
high  in  silver,  carrying  some  copper  and  a  little  gold.  A  200- 
foot  tunnel  cuts  the  vein,  on  which  a  50-foot  shaft  has  been 
sunk  with  a  couple  of  drifts  in  the  bottom. 

Vein  No.  2,  it  is  stated,  carries  chloride  of  silver. 

Vein  No.  3  can  be  traced  for  quite  a  distance  on  both  sides 
of  the  canyon,  and  on  the  western  side,  a  little  above  the 
bottom  of  the  canyon,  a  tunnel  of  700  feet  has  been  run  along 
its  course.  Not  far  from  the  entrance  a  shaft  has  been  sunk 
100  feet  on  the  vein.  Part  of  the  tunnel  is  run  in  the  foot  wall, 
because  the  rock  is  much  softer  than  the  quartz,  which  forms  a 
solid  gangue  rock  between  the  walls.  From  time  to  time  the 
vein  has  been  crosscut,  showing  its  continuation  with  a  width 
A-arying  from  4  to  12  feet,  all  of  which  carries  ore  that  in  places 
forms  rich  streaks  of  various  thicknesses.  A  second  tunnel  of 
600  feet,  a  little  distance  above,  shows  exactly  the  same  con- 
dition.s  in  retrard  to  size  of  vein  and  character  of  ore. 


SAX    BERXAKniNo    COUXTY — COPPER    CLAIMS.  333 

Vein  No.  4.  farthor  north,  appoai-s  1o  ho  very  .siinihir  to 
the  preceding  one. 

We.st  of  the  New  York  iiiuu'.  on  Uu-  otlier  side  of  the  high 
ridge,  is  located  the  property  of  the  Giant  Ledge  Gold  and 
Silver  ( 'onn)any.  of  Los  Angi'lcs.  It  is  stated  that  the  company 
has  completed  TOO  feet  of  a  liinncl  intended  to  cut  an  immense 
ledge  60  feet  wide,  containing  also  a  fair  anionnt  of  copper 
with  the  other  values.  An  abundance  of  wood  and  water  and 
the  proximity  of  the  railroad  place  the  mines  in  the  New  York 
Mountains  under  favorable  conditions  for  exploitation. 

Von  Trigor  Group. — Six  claims  in  the  p]xchequer  mining 
district,  sections  16  and  17.  township  11  north,  range  18  east, 
at  the  eastern  side  of  the  county.  One  of  the  claims  is  opened 
by  a  tunnel  30  feet  long,  all  in  ore.  The  ore  is  oxide,  said  to 
carry  7.6  per  cent  copper.  $3.96  in  gold,  and  2%  ounces  in 
silver  per  ton.  The  gossan  croppings  are  wide,  with  east  and 
west  strike.  The  claims  are  about  two  miles  from  the  railroad, 
and  the  Colorado  Kiver  is  about  eighteen  miles  east  of  the 
group.  Elevation,  1800  feet.  Owner,  A.  .M.  Williams,  San 
Francisco. 

Copper  Mountain  Mining  Co.— This  company,  of  which 
\V.  A.  Cooper.  (»f  San  Bernardino,  is  president,  owns  a  group 
of  ten  claims  in  the  southeastern  part  of  the  county,  four  and 
a  half  miles  northeast  of  Victor  and  four  miles  east  of  Oro 
Grande.  The  Copper  King  claim  shows  gossan  croppings  200 
feet  wide.  The  ore  is  sulphide,  said  to  go  8  to  10  per  cent 
copper  and  some  carbonate.  The  hanging  wall  of  the  vein  is 
limestone.  The  mine  is  opened  l\v  a  shaft  200  feet  deep  on 
the  vein.  This  mine  was  first  opened  twenty-eight  years  ago. 
and  then  closed  down,  in  which  condition  it  remained  until 
reccMitly.  when  it  was  reopened  and  reprospected.  Of  the 
other  elaims.  Ania/on  .No.  1  is  opened  l)y  a  shaft  60  feet  deep, 
with  a  drift  to  the  west  48  feet,  and  a  drift  to  the  north  4.") 
feet.  The  strike  of  the  vein  on  all  the  claims  is  east,  with  ;i 
northerly  dip  of  aliout  60  degress.  The  croppings  are  limonite. 
The  vein  is  highly  mineralized,  with  a  fair  grade  of  copper- 
bearing  material  interspersed.  A  heavy  quartzite  dike  follows 
the  vein  on  one  side.  The  ore  is  reported  to  assay  10  per  cent 
copper,  and  a  fair  amount  of  gold  and  silver.    The  TTekla  mine 


334  THE  COPPER  RESOURCES  OP  CALIFORNIA. 

is  opened  hy  three  shafts,  3U  to  4U  feet  deep.  The  C^ueen  is 
opened  ))y  a  eut  100  feet  hinjr,  and  from  15  to  25  feet  wide, 
riumini;  dia<ronally  across  the  formation,  and  exposin^:  three 
different  veins,  one  of  which  is  12  feet  wide.  The  ore  is 
sulpliide.  The  other  mines  of  the  group  show  good  copper 
indications.  Further  extensive  developments  are  under  con- 
sideration. 

Rose  Mine. — In  Morongo  district,  45  miles  southeast  of 
Victor;  elevation,  7000  feet;  stril^e  northwest,  with  a  dip  of 
30  degrees.  The  ore  carries  copper,  gold,  and  silver.  The 
vein  is  pockety,  with  walls  of  limestone.  There  is  a  shaft 
1000  feet  deep,  a  tunnel  oOi)  feet  long,  and  about  2000  feet  of 
other  developments.  Reduction  works  are  on  the  ground.  The 
property  is  worked  as  a  gold  mine  primarily.  The  copper 
occurs  in  bunches  in  the  vein  and  is  sorted  out  and  shipped  to 
a  smelter  in  relatively  small  quantities.  The  gold  ore  is  reduced 
in  a  stamp  mill.    Owned  by  R.  S.  Grant,  of  Victor. 

Camp  Vera  Group. — Contains  thirty  claims,  all  lying  in  the 
Morrow  mining  district,  about  twenty-five  miles  north  of  Bar- 
stow,  and  six  miles  northeast  of  Lane's  mills:  elevation,  3725 
feet.  A  mineralized  belt  consisting  of  ironstone  rock,  running 
through  the  county  in  a  northeasterly  direction,  is  partly  cov- 
ered by  these  claims.  The  belt  varies  in  width  from  50  to  500 
feet  and  can  be  traced  for  ten  miles.  Al)out  twenty  shafts, 
10  to  (JO  feet  deep,  have  been  sunk  near  the  belt.  They  all  show 
ore  containing  considerable  copper  oxide,  and  other  forms  of 
copper  mineralization.  Open  cuts  have  been  made  in  other 
places  near  the  belt,  showing  copper  minerals.  These  shafts 
and  cuts  are  not  on  tlie  mineralized  belt,  but  are  to  the  west 
of  it  a  few  hundred  yards,  and  show  that  the  copper  deposits 
have  a  general  dip  toward  the  belt.  A  sample  of  six  tons  of 
ore  was  shipped  to  a  smelter  and  is  reported  to  have  given 
returns  of  18  per  cent  copper  and  i^4  in  gold.  Ironsides  No.  1, 
of  this  group,  is  opened  by  a  shaft  100  feet  deep,  which  follows 
a  streak  of  highly  oxidized  mineral,  varying  from  8  inches  to 
2  feet  in  width,  which  at  the  bottom  of  shaft  shows  an  impreg- 
nation of  copper  in  the  form  of  a  rather  unique  crystallization. 
The  west  wall  is  well  defined,  and  is  of  a  granitic  character. 
The  owner  of  the  Camp  Vera  group  is  AV.  J.  Rodgers.  of 
Barstow. 


SAN    BERXAKDIXO   COUNTY — COPPKK    f'LAIMS.  ,VSo 

Juanita. — This  c-laiiu  is  in  tlu'  Morrow  mining  district, 
twenty-six  miles  east  of  Jolianneshnrir.  (iossan  eroppinLrs. 
varying  from  2  to  12  feet  in  w  icltli,  appear  on  tliis  elaim,  and 
extend  beyond  its  limits  for  a  distance  of  over  two  miles. 
Beneath  theiii  llie  deposits  of  ore  ciirryiiii:  (•ii|)pcr  ;ii-f  ruiiiid  to 
widen  ont  as  developnirnt  |>i'oceeds.  The  liaiiuiiiL:  walls  are 
granite,  and  tlic  I'odl  walls  limestone.  Tliei-e  ;ifi'  tlircc  veins 
about  30  feet  apai-t  covered  by  this  chiiiii.  ( )n('  shaft  is  212 
feet  deep,  two  are  (iO  feet,  and  one  is  40  feet  deep.  At  1!)() 
feet  on  the  212-foot  shaft  a  crosscut  has  been  run.  but  it  does 
not  reach  either  wall.  The  ore  is  said  to  go  17  per  cent  in 
copper  and  $3  in  uold.  The  vein  mattei-  is  of  a  talcose  natui'e 
carrying  coi)per  sulphides  thron<:liout.  Owner.  Tnion  Devel- 
opment Company,  of  Raston. 

Juanita  Group. — Besides  iln'  -luanila  mine,  there  are  141 
other  claims,  constituting  what  is  called  the  .luanita  group. 
Among  these  claims,  those  having  the  most  notable  develop- 
ment are  the  Henrietta.  Lookout,  and  Big  Three.  The  Henri- 
etta is  opened  by  a  shaft  52  feet  deep,  drift  28  feet  long,  and 
a  winze  fi-oni  its  end  1(1  feet  deep.  The  character  of  the  ore  is 
oxide.  The  width  is  undetermined.  The  ore  is  said  to  assay 
14  per  cent  copper,  ^^2  in  gold,  and  2  ounces  of  silver  to  the 
ton.  The  Lookout  claim  is  opened  by  a  tunnel  30  feet  long, 
striking  a  vein  of  carbonate  ore  about  3  feet  in  width,  said  to 
contain  32  p«M-  cent  coj)])!-!'  witli  no  gold  or  silver.  The  foot 
wall  is  porph\  ry.  with  intrusii)iis  of  limestone.  There  are 
eighty-six  other  shafts  on  the  group,  attaining  depths  of  from 
20  to  30  feet,  showing  veins  of  oxide  ores  from  2  to  40  feet  in 
width,  said  to  average  7  pei-  cent  copjier.  $4  in  ^"-old.  and  3 
ounces  of  silver.  The  Tiig  Three  chiiiii  is  opened  by  a  shaft 
77  feet  deep. 

Lytle  Creek  Mine. —  li  lies  twenty  miles  nortlnvest  of  San 
Bernardino,  and  lias  been  worked  for  twenty  years.  It  con- 
tains bunches  of  high-grade  copper  ore. 

The  Peacock,  or  Lava  Beds,  Mining  District. — One  liundred 
miles  east  of  San  Bernardino,  in  the  south-central  part  of  the 
county.  It  contains  .some  claims  with  gossan  croppings  unde- 
developed  that  show  indications  of  copper  ores. 


336  THE  COPPER  RESOURCES  OF  CALIFORNIA. 

Ord  Copper  Group. — This  group  consists  of  tweuty-three 
claims  ill  Ord  ^Mountain,  fourteen  miles  south  of  Daggett. 
The  strikes  are  nearly  north  and  east.  The  deposits  carry 
copper  and  gold,  the  former  largely  predominating,  except  in 
a  few  places.  The  main  vein  is  about  three  miles  long  and 
averages  about  20  feet  wide.  The  lianging  wall  is  granite  and 
the  foot  wall  decomposed  porphyry.  The  ore  is  copper  carbon- 
ate and  sulphide.  A  shaft  154  feet  deep  and  a  tunnel  400  feet 
long,  with  about  1000  feet  of  other  development  work,  con- 
stitute the  openings.  Several  of  the  claims  are  patented. 
Osborne  &  Drew,  of  Daggett,  owners. 

About  fort.y  miles  northeast  of  ^Vhitewater  station,  on  the 
Southern  Pacific  Railroad,  in  Riverside  County,  is  a  group  of 
claims  located  in  the  Copper  ^Mountains,  a  small  group  otf  the 
San  Bernardino  range,  just  west  of  the  Twenty-nine  Palms 
district.  Owner,  II.  R.  Hudspeth,  of  Los  Angeles.  The  claims 
are  on  a  lode  crossing  the  principal  lodes  of  the  county.  The 
deposit  is  between  lime  and  porphyry.  The  copixT  is  in  the 
form  of  cuprite  and  ohry.socolla.  On  thr  outcrop  tlie  mineral- 
ized zone  is  about  250  feet  wide.  The  development  consists  of 
shafts,  drifts,  and  cuts,  and  a  tunnel  105  feet  long. 

About  three  miles  north  oi  Klinefelter  station  is  a  mine 
owned  by  Lewis  &  Shafer,  displaying  a  vein  from  3  to  6  feet 
wide,  between  massive  slate  and  granite  and  porphyry  walls. 
The  ore  is  stated  to  bear  20  per  cent  of  copper  associated  with 
gold.  A  vshaft  has  been  sunk  to  a  depth  of  75  feet  and  a  tunnel 
driven  50  feet,  with  about  100  ftn^t  of  t)ther  dovelopmont  work. 

Leastock  Gold  and  Copper  Mining  Company. — A  group  of 
twelve  claims  in  the  Vanderl)ilt  district.  San  Bernardino 
County.  Vein  hotwoon  lime  and  granite,  carrying  ore  reported 
at  7  per  cent  to  30  per  cent  copper,  averaging  12  per  cent. 
Shaft  150  feet;  total  development  about  500  feet.  (Reported 
by  the  Leastock  Gold  and  Copper  Alining  Company.) 

In  the  southeast  corner  of  San  Bernardino  County  are  the 
Whipple  and  ^Monument  Mountains  and  west  of  these  the 
Turtle  ^Mountains,  where  some  old  mines  are  located,  which 
produced  rich  ore  in  former  years,  when  the  Planet  and 
Rawhide  mines  in  Arizona  Avere  in  operation.  After  lying 
idle  a  long  time,  this  part  of  the  county  again  attracted  atten- 
tion, work  on  some  of  the  old  mines  was  resumed,  and  a  number 


SAN    BERNARDINO   COINTV — COl'PKR    CLAIMS.  337 

of  new  prospects  were  tU'Vi'htpt'd.  'I'lic  l'n||(i\viti<^  information 
al)t)ut  this  r»'L;ioii  was  obtained  from  Mi-.  S.  A.  MeUonald,  of 
Los  AnLTelcs.  jind  .Mr.  I'.  Walters,  of  Santa  Monica: 

American  Eagle  Group. — Situated  about  thirty-five  miles 
.south  of  Needle.s;  lias  a  shaft  130  feet,  with  some  drifts  show- 
ing: sulphide  ores. 

Adjoining  on  the  north  is  the  Dayton  groui),  and  the  Wilbur 
and  CopperHeld  j;roup,  which  has  a  jia.soline  hoist. 

Still  farther  .south  are  the  Wyatt  Earp,  Martin,  Bonner 
irroup.  and  several  other  claims. 

Fifteen  miles  southwest  in  the  Turtle  .Mountains  lies  the 
Horn  jrroup  of  fifteen  claims,  with  TOO  feet  of  development 
work.  sh()win<r  some  hi,irh-«;rade  copper  ore. 

In  the  Arica  ^Mountains,  twelve  miles  farther  south,  are 
located  the  Grey  and  Hrown  .ii:roups,  on  which  considerable 
work  hiuj  been  done,  showiny^  bodies  of  copper-«>:old  ore. 

Large  go.s.san  outcrops  and  copper  ore  have  been  found  in 
Iron  wood  district,  some  distance  south  of  these  properties. 

Si.xty  miles  south  of  Needles,  occupying  the  extreme  south- 
east corner  of  San  Bernardino  County,  are  the  Whipple  and 
Miuiumeiit  raiiire,  and  a  little  west  of  these  the  Turtle  Moun- 
tains, where  some  rich  gold-copper  ore  was  taken  out  forty 
years  ago,  at  the  time  when  the  Rawhide  and  Planet  mines  in 
Arizona  were  producing.  After  being  abandoned  and  lying 
idle  for  a  long  time  this  district  again  attracted  attention, 
nnd  several  mining  camps  have  l)een  established. 

Copper  Basin  is  situated  in  Mount  Whipple  district,  not 
fai-  from  the  Colorado  River,  and  several  veins  have  been 
located  on  a  contact  between  a  foot  wall  of  diorite  and  a 
hanging  wall  of  lime.  .\.  Wilson  and  .\.  .M.  Cornelius,  of 
Needles,  (»wn  four  claims  on  a  7-foot  vein:  R'.  K.  Neil,  of 
Spokane,  owns  a  group  of  twelve  claims,  with  a  20-foot  vein 
of  oxidized  ores:  on  the  Catspaw  are  two  shafts  of  100  feet. 

The  D.  &  W.  (Dayton  &  Wilbur)  has  a  shaft  and  hoist:  the 
.\merican  Eagle  group  in  .Monument  district  has  a  shaft  of 
130  feet,  expo.sing  a  large  body  of  sulphides,  which  are  encoun- 
tered at  a  little  depth  in  this  region,  the  water  line  being  only 
75  to  100  feet.  On  the  eastern  slope  of  Turtle  Mountain  lies 
the  Black  ^Metal  mine,  and  in  the  northern  part  of  this  range, 
-the  Sunrise  district  has  been  recently  located. 
22— Bt'L.  oO 


338  THE  COPPER  RESOURCES  OF  CALIFORNIA. 

Twenty  miles  farther  down  the  river,  in  Riverside  County, 
eio:lity-one  miles  frtmi  Needles,  \\  AValters.  of  Santa  ^lonica, 
tliscovered  ore  and  loeated  a  niuiihcr  of  claims.  The  formation 
is  granite,  schist,  and  lime;  course  of  veins  southeast-northwest; 
ore,  copper,  with  a  little  gold.  One  shaft  is  down  150  feet  and 
one  tunnel  on  Copper  Hill  is  35  feet  in  ore.  Several  shipments 
of  20  per  cent  ore,  mostly  oxides,  have  been  made  to  the 
smelter  in  El  Paso,  it  is  reported.  Sulphides  are  expected  at 
200  feet,  the  water  level. 

Between  Goff  station  and  INFanvel  lies  the  Von  Trigger  camp, 
where  a  number  of  claims  have  been  located  on  gold-bearing 
(luartz.  Some  of  the  veins  carry  copper,  particularly  in  tlie 
group  of  claims  owned  by  A.  11.  Cramer,  Blake  post  office. 

Old  Dad  Mountain  Mining  District. — This  district,  situated 
northeast  of  Bagdad,  was  discovered  by  a  I'iuto  Indian,  named 
Ilikorum,  in  18i)7,  who  I)rought  some  oi-c  to  Needles  and 
described  the  locality  where  he  had  found  il,  whereupon  some 
miners  went  to  the  place  and  made  the  first  locations.  The 
principal  formation  is  granite,  hut  the  veins  are  found  in  a  por- 
phyritic  rock,  varying  from  coarse-grained  rock  resembling 
granite,  to  a  fine-grained  variety,  apparently  a  (|uartz-])or- 
phyry.  The  walls  of  the  veins  ai-c  generall\'  not  clearly  defined, 
which  applies  esj)e(Mally  to  the  foot  wall,  and  il  is.  therefore, 
difficult  to  determine  accurately  the  width.  The  i)riiic!pal  vein 
is  from  4  to  over  20  feet  wide ;  strike  20  degrees  west,  north  20 
degrees  east;  dip  60  to  72  degrees.  Carries  quartz,  ii-on.  lime, 
etc.,  and  values  in  gold  and  copper,  mostly  oxides  witli  some 
glance,  and  a  little  silver.  This  vein  has  been  traced  for  more 
than  two  miles  and  on  it  is  located  the  property  of  the  two 
principal  miijing  companies  in  the  district. 

The  Orange  Blossom  Mining  and  Milling  Company  own 
ten  claims,  thi-ee  of  which  are  located  along  the  apex  of  the 
vein,  which  has  been  traced  through  their  entire  length.  This 
property  is  situated  in  lowiiship  8  north,  range  11  east,  nine 
miles  from  the  station  Bagdad.  2()!)0  feet  alxtve  sea  level,  or 
1975  feet  nixive  that  place,  which  is  715  feet  above  sea  level. 
Besides  the  slwillow  openings  along  the  apex  of  the  vein,  by 
which  its  course  has  l)een  traciMl.  the  principal  workings  are 
on  the  Orange  TMo.s.scmi  claim  and  consist  in  two  shafts  not  far 


SAN    HKRXARDINO    COINTV — COPPER    CLAIMS. 


:i:}!) 


apjirt.   lollowiiiLr  llic  vein  ;it   an  aiitrlf  of  7l'  degrees,  the  clip 

being  wrst  l)y  nortli.     Tl Id  shaft   lies  fartlun-  nortli.  is  106 

foot  d<'o|).  and  has  one  drift  running  north  40  foot,  at  15  feet, 
ami  anothor  at  af)  feet  runninu'  south,  showing  ore  in  their 
entire  length.  The  new  shaft  is  'Mi'i  feet  deep,  well  timbered, 
of  doui)le  compartment,  one  for  bucket,  one  for  ladder  way,  and 
is  e<iuipped  with  a  ir)-hoi-sepowor  gasoline  hoist.    At  th'!  55-foot 


J\f 


\' 


^ 


v^*^ 


m 


oiiAxci:   i;lussum  mini-:.    \>a\>  aiuiwiwix    i -isiiiicr    s\\ 

BKRXARDINO    COUNT V. 


level  are  1  Of)  feet  of  drifts,  coiiiieit  Jul;-  with  the  old  shaft:  at 
th.'  100-foot  level  there  are  :55  feet  ..f  drifts;  at  the  L'OO-foot 
level,  45  foot;  at  the  :WO-foot  level,  35  feet.  ;dl  showing  a  wide 
vein,  and  ore.  Between  the  two  shafts  is  an  open  cut  60  feet 
Ioiil:  and  aliout  S  feet  deep,  all  in  vein  with  several  feet  of 
good  ore.  .Mtogether  there  ;iiv  471  feet  of  shaft,  261  feet  (.f 
drifts,  anil  60  feet  of  cut.  or  7!)1  feet  of  development.  The 
camp  has  good  accommodations  and  an  assay  office.  Office: 
San  Diego;  John  Denair.  president  :  W.  I.  Coapman,  .secretary. 


340  THE  COPPER  RESOURCES  OF  CALIFORNIA. 

The  Orange  Blossom  Extension  adjoins  the  preceding  on 
the  north.  Its  property  eonsi.sts  of  twenty  ehvims,  five  of  which 
are  located  on  the  same  vein  which  continues  without  any  par- 
ticular chanuc  in  its  geological  and  inineralo<rical  features.  Its 
main  workings  aiv  located  on  the  Bengal  claim,  and  consist  of 
a  1  lO-foot  shaft,  connected  in  the  bottom  witli  a  Tifj-foot  tunnel, 
21()-foot  crosscuts,  drifts,  and  shafts,  or  nearly  450  feet  of 
development  altogether.  It  has  been  reported  that  since  this 
pid|)city  was  examined  a  lai-ge  How  of  water  has  been  struck 
in  the  Bengal  shaft  at  a  depth  of  715  feet.  Office,  San  Diego; 
president.  J.  A.  Hodgman;  secretary.  Win.  H.  Holcomb. 

Two  miles  northwest  of  this  camp  a  vein  was  discovered  by 
C.  T.  Sel)ni-n.  upon  wliidi  was  located  the  claim  known  as  the 
Lady  Lou.  which  carries  high  values  in  copper  and  gold,  the 
latter  being  frequently  visible  in  the  ore.  Course  northeast  by 
southwest;  dip  northwest.  Tunnel  65  feet  with  18  feet  winze 
on  -l-foot  vein.  Two  other  veins  have  been  discovered  on  this 
property  which  show  well  in  copper  on  the  surface. 


RIVERSIDE  COUNTY. 


Riverside  County  comprises  a  wide  strip  of  territory  stretch- 
ing across  the  desert  region  of  the  southeastern  part  of  tlie 
State  from  the  boundary  at  tlie  Colorado  River  westward 
to  a  terminus  on  the  Pacific  Slope.  In  this  county  is  the  San 
Bernardino  range,  which  separates  the  ]\Iojave  and  Colorado 
deserts,  and  the  county  thus  includes  portions  of  both  theses 
arid  wastes.  The  western  portion  has  become,  with  irrigation, 
one  of  the  chief  garden  spots  of  Southern  California  and  the 
orange  groves  and  floral  wealth  of  this  region  liave  spread  afar 
the  fame  of  Riverside's  glory. 

Topographically,  geologically,  and  mineralogicallv  the  desert 
region  of  Riverside  resembles  that  of  San  Bernardino  County 
to  its  north.  ^Mineral  wealth  is  similarly  distributed,  though 
the  mining  industry  is  of  smaller  relative  importance.  There 
has  been  nnich  recent  activity  in  the  prospecting  and  develop- 


KIVKKSinK    ("OINTY — COIM'KR    CLAIMS.  :{41 

iiuMit  <•!*  the  scv('i-;il  districts,  cliictly  in  i-fspcct  t(i  ^'oKl.  Aiuoiiu: 
tlj»'  varied  iniin'rals  whidi  ai'f  widely  distril))ited  over  the 
eoimty  and  wliidi  will  lie  the  hasis  of  a  ijreat  future  mineral 
industry  ar<'  silver,  coal.  salt,  poitcry  day.  asliestos.  marble, 
irranite.  etc.  Copper  is  of  wide  occuri-eiice  in  assoeia1i<>n  with 
irold  and  silvrr  oi-cs.  and  a  iniiiilier  of  properties  have  received 
superficial  tlevelopnieiil.  hut  noiu'  have  yet  assumed  importanee 
as  |)roducciN.  The  Southern  Pacific  Railroad  crosses  the 
countN'  diaironally.  ^'ivini;  faii'lx"  convenient  access  to  several 
mineral  ilistriets.  The  southei-n  boundary  of  the  county  runs 
throuirh  the  depression  known  as  SmIIou  Lake,  the  lowest  pai-f 
i>f  which   is  27')  feet  below  the  level  of  the  sea. 

Orphan  Boy  Mines. — They  are  in  the  Valeii  .Mountains, 
about  twii  miles  south  of  Packai'd's  Well.  Ironwood  district. 
Elevation.  1S.")()  feet.  There  an-  llirre  claims  in  this  lifcaip. 
The  minerals  ai'«'  copper,  i-old.  and  silver,  and  the  mineralized 
/.one  is  about  100  feet  wide,  dipping;  southwai'dly.  The  eoimtry 
roek  is  i>or|>hyry.  There  are  three  open  cuts  and  a  shaft  8 
feet  deep  levealinj;  jrood  ore.  Assays  are  reported  to  show 
more  than  'M)  per  cent  coj)])er.  The  han<rin<r  wall  is  limestone 
or  irranular  Lrypsum.  dippintr  about  oO  de^'rees.  There  is  con- 
siderable massive  epidote  on  these  claims.  Owner.  P.  AV. 
]\re(Trath.   Los   Ansfeles. 

Palen  Copper  Mines. — Located  nn  the  west  side  of  Palen 
.Minmtains.  about  ten  miles  east  of  I'aleii  Wells.  The  character 
or  the  ore  is  co|)|)ei'.  Lrold.  and  silvei-.  The  vein  matter  is  about 
")()  feet  wide.  The  country  rock  is  cpiartzite  and  i)orphyry. 
Five  sIkiHow  shafts  have  been  excavated,  which  sliow  uood  oi-e 
averaj;in<r  alxait  :'o  per  cent  eojiper.  TIkmt  are  two  claims— 
The  ('oi)per-Silv«'r  Glance  and  The  ()|)hir.  The  former  is 
located  o!i  a  spur  of  Palen  Mountain  in  a  canyon  comiuLf  in 
from  the  east.  It  is  about  250  feet  above  the  creek  bed  and 
2100  feet  above  .sea  level.  There  are  eitrhf  cuts  and  prosix'ct 
holes  in  this  spur,  all  yieldinir  copper.  The  led^'e  lies  suitable 
for  (plarryin^^  Sandstone,  (piartzite.  and  orranulite  are  the 
country   roi-k.     Owner.    II.   C.   Adams.   Los  Anj^eles. 

Homestake   Group. — Then-  are   five  claims  in  this  gntup, 
located  on  the  east  side  of  Palen  ^Mountains,  about  eight  miles 


342  TllK  C'OPl'KK   KKSOlKCKS  OK   C'ALIKUKN"  l.\. 

northwest  of  McCoy  Springs,  at  an  elevation  of  1600  to  2350 
feet,  and  but  three  or  four  miles  from  the  ()r[)han  Boy  and 
Ophir  mines  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  mountains.  The  five 
claims  are  on  the  same  ledge,  and  carry  copper,  gold,  and 
silver.  The  width  of  the  ledge  matter  is  20  to  50  feet,  and  it 
yields  copper-silver  glance,  azurite.  and  malachite.  The  devel- 
opment work  consists  of  two  shallow  shafts  and  three  open  cuts. 
Owners,  Adams  &  Creasinger.  Los  Angeles. 

Mountain  King  Group. — Consists  of  three  claims  located 
on  the  east  side  of  ]\leCoy  Mountains.  The  strike  is  northwest 
and  southeast,  and  the  dip  northeast.  The  ore,  which  is  azurite 
and  malacliite.  contains  copper,  gold,  and  silver.  The  deposit 
is  in  ledge  form,  the  vein  matter  being  about  30  feet  wide.  A 
shaft  40  feet  deep  has  been  sunk,  and  four  open  cuts  have  been 
made,  all  revealing  good  ore.  The  country  rock  is  porphyry 
and  quartzite.  The  mine  is  easily  accessible.  Elevation.  1800 
feet.     Owners.  Adams  &  Creasinger.  Los  Angeles. 

Randolph  &  Hamilton  Claims. — Consist  of  two  groups  and 
seven  claims  in  Santa  ^laria  ^Mountains.  The  deposits  consist 
of  copper  and  chromic  iron,  and  some  gold,  at  an  elevation  of 
about  1750  feet.  A  shaft  21  feet  deep  has  been  sunk  and  four 
or  tive  cuts  made.  The  copper  value  is  about  7  or  8  per  cent. 
Iron  largely  predominates.  There  is  much  limestone  as 
country  rock,  and  some  porphyry.  Owners.  Randolph  & 
Hamilton.  Ehrcnberg.  Arizona. 

Anderson  Claims. — There  are  twenty-six  claims  in  this 
grou]).  located  in  the  northern  part  of  the  county.  The  strike 
is  northwest.  The  ore  carries  copper  with  a  little  silver,  and 
the  veins  vary  from  2  to  6  feet  in  width.  The  hanging  wall  is 
granite.  A  shaft  80  feet  deep  has  l)een  sunk  and  a  tuiuiel  100 
feet  long  driven,  with  considerable  other  development  work  in 
shafts,  etc.    Six  men  were  employed.    Anderson  &  Co..  owners. 

"Badger  State"  Group. — Ten  claims  located  in  the  McCoy 
^Mountains.  al)t)ut  twenty  miles  west  of  the  Colorado  River. 
The  ore  contains  copper,  gold,  and  silver.  There  are  a  vast 
number  of  stringers  from  6  inches  to  4  feet  wide.  The  walls 
are  porphyry  and  limestone,  granite  ])eing  the  country  rock. 
There  is  also  much  iron  in  these  claims.     About  300  feet  of 


KIVKKSIDK    COI'.VTV — CDIM'KK    CLAIMS.  .'U^i 

d('V('ln|)iii«'iit  wofk  lias  Ix't-ii  doin'  in  open  ciils.  sliall(»\\  sliatls. 
etr..  wliicli  reveal  irood  ore.  Tlie  present  owner  is  S.  I*. 
Creasin«rer.  of  Los  Aiijreles. 

Fluor  Spar  Group.  This  ^roup  of  tiine  cianiis  is  in  tlie 
I'alen  ^lonntains.  one  niilo  southwest  of  I'ackai'd's  Well.  Iron- 
wood  district.  The  ledi;o  matter  is  ahout  KM)  feet  wide,  and 
strikes  ixtrtheast  and  southwest.  The  oi-e  contains  copper.  j;old. 
and  silvei-.  The  count ly  i-ock  is  larircly  porph\ry  and  linie- 
stoiu\  The  copper  represents  azurite,  malachite,  etc.  and  some 
red  oxide.  There  are  two  open  cnts  penetratinjr  the  mountains 
20  feet  or  more.  Elevation,  1800  feet.  The  group  is  owned  by 
Jacob  Iier«re.  The  mine  contains  nuich  Huor  spar.  Iceland  spar, 
and  limi)id  <iuartz.     The  ore  lies  suitable  for  quarrying. 

The  Ironwood  or  ]\IcCoy  ^Mountain  district  contains  a  highly 
mineralized  zone  of  copper,  silver,  gold,  and  lead  ores.  Iliudi- 
Lrrade  snlphide  deposits  are  known  to  exist,  principally  in  the 
form  of  kidneys.  Resides  these,  native  copper  is  occasionally 
met  with.  The  district  is  twenty-two  miles  from  the  Colorado 
River,  and  ore  has  been  shipped  by  that  route  to  reduction 
works. 

In  the  Shadow  Mountain  district  there  are  localities  showing 
gold,  copper,  and  lead  ores.  The  copper  ores  are  malachite 
and  oxides. 

Vulture  Crag. — The  property  is  in  the  western  part  of  the 
county,  fourteen  miles  east  of  Capistrano.  in  Trabucco  Canyon. 
There  is  not  sufficient  development  to  determine  the  extent 
of  the  deposit.  In  an  8-foot  tunnel  a  ledge  over  4  feet  in  width 
has  been  exposed.  The  ore  is  chiefly  chalcopyrite,  and  the 
croppings  may  be  traced  for  several  miles.  A.  R.  Joplin.  of 
Santa  Ana.  owner. 

Copper  ore  was  discovered  eighty  miles  south  of  Needles 
eight  years  ago  by  P.  Walters,  who  located  a  number  of 
claims.  The  formation  is  granite,  schist  and  lime;  course  of 
vein  southeast ;  ore  carries  copper  and  a  little  gold.  One  shaft 
is  down  150  feet  and  one  tunnel  in  Copper  Hill  shows  35  feet 
of  copper  ore.  It  is  reported  that  several  shipments  of  20 
per  cent  copper,  mostly  oxides,  were  made  to  the  smelter  in 
El  Pa.so. 


344  THE  COPPER  RESOURCES  OF  CALIFORNIA. 


SAN  DIEGO  COUNTY. 


San  Dic'jio  County  strt'tclii-s  from  the  Paeitie  shore  to  Imperial 
County.  The  lower  western  slope,  near  the  sea.  is  a  populous, 
rich,  and  fertile  rejrion,  famed  for  its  climate,  scenery,  and 
productions.  Back  from  the  shore,  mountains  mark  the  eastern 
limit  of  fci'lility  ;iiul  beauty  and  the  Avestern  limit  of  the 
expanse  of  arid  mountain  and  valley  composing  the  Colorado 
Desert  and  nnich  the  larger  portion  of  the  county's  big  area. 
In  the  mountains  near  the  coast  are  various  minerals,  such  as 
characterize  the  up]ier  part  of  Lower  California,  and  mineral 
wealth  is  widely  distril)uted  throughout  the  county  eastward. 
Kugged  and  desolate  mountains  fill  most  of  the  desert  area,  and 
among  them  the  persistent  prospector  and  the  enterprising 
mining  capitalist  have  established  several  important  mining 
districts  and- developed  some  of  the  leading  gold  mines  of  the 
State.  Copper  minerals  occur  in  association  with  the  ores  of 
other  metals  quite  extensively  throughout  the  county,  but  no 
copper  deposits  worthy  of  note  as  such  have  been  developed 
in  the  desert  region.  The  two  prospects  noted  below  are  near 
the  coast  and  are  not  to  be  associated  with  those  of  the  arid 
region  farther  east. 


-t>' 


Danes  Lea  Mining  Co. — The  mines  of  this  company  are 
located  near  the  coast,  eight  miles  east  of  Encinitas.  in  town- 
ship 13  south,  range  3  west.  San  Bernardino  meridian.  The 
development  consists  of  two  shafts  200  feet  apart  and  a  tunnel. 
One  of  the  shafts  is  down  280  feet  and  the  other  100  feet.  The 
shafts  are  sunk  in  the  ore  body,  the  ledge  being  about  3  feet 
wide  in  porphyry  formation.  The  ore  is  chaleopyrite.  averag- 
ing a  fair  percentage  of  copper.  A  12-horsepower  gasoline 
hoist  has  been  installed.  Tlie  company  intend  to  erect  a  con- 
centration plant  as  soon  as  the  developments  will  .iustif\"  the 
expenditure  and  to  ship  the  concentrates  to  a  smelter.  In  the 
group  there  are  twenty  claims,  all  showing  copper  in  the  crop- 
pings.  W.  IT.  Mackinnon  of  Encinitas  is  manager,  and  AV.  C. 
Harland.  of  San  Diego,  president. 


SAX  mvAH)  c'orNTY — LOS  axcf:les  corNTV.  34;> 

Barona  Copper  Claims. — This  pn.pniy  is  localtd  ihirty- 
five  miles  iioiilicast  of  San  I)it*<jro  and  twelve  miles  iiortiieast 
of  Lakeside,  in  Inwiisliip  14  south,  raiii^e  1  east.  Saii  Bernar- 
dino meridian.  'I'he  nearest  point  mi  the  ("inaniaca  iJailroad 
is  si.\  miles  di.stant.  The  development  consists  of  two  25-foot 
shafts  ami  two  ^'i-foot  crossents  in  the  oi-e  l)ody.  The  ledjre, 
about  20  feet  wide,  is  mineralized  thron^diont.  and  eopi)er  erop- 
pin«rs  are  expo.sed  for  about  150  feet  in  lenirth  on  its  strike 
and  wher(>  development.s  have  been  performed.  TIk^  ore  is 
prineipall\"  ehalcopyrite  and  black  oxide  of  copper.  It  assays 
about  8  per  cent  copper  antl  carries  .^^1.50  in  fjjold  and  8  ounces 
of  silver  per  ton.  The  ledire.  a  schistose  quartz,  is  in  granite. 
T.  J.  Dalev.  of  San  Die^o.  owner. 


LOS  ANGELES  COUNTY. 


Los  AuLieles  ('oiuit,\ .  wliich  reaches  eastward  from  the  sea 
in  the  most  favored  portion  of  southern  California,  is  far- 
famed  for  its  climate  and  the  wealth  and  beauty  of  its  orange 
groves  and  luxuriant  gardens,  and  possesses,  in  tlie  city  of 
Los  Angeles,  the  metropolis  of  this  large  section  of  tiie  State. 
There  are  three  rich  oil  fields  in  the  county,  those  of  the  city 
of  Los  Angeles,  AVhittier,  and  Puente.  The  petroleum  (mtput 
in  1907  was  4,318,73!)  ban-els.  and  oil  refineries  produced  a 
large  amount  of  asphaltum. 

Xortli  and  east  of  the  fertile  valley  regions  of  the  county,  in 
its  nortiiern  and  eastern  parts,  is  a  considerable  i)ortion  of  the 
j\Io.jave  Desert,  similar  in  character  to  the  desert  regions  of  the 
adjoining  counties  of  Kern,  San  Bernardino,  aiul  Riverside. 
In  this  region  ])lacer  gold  was  mined  l)efore  ^Marshall  made  his 
discovery  in  1848.  and  ever  since  Itnii  |)lacer  miiiiuL;  operations 
have  continued  on  a  small  scale  .\  few  valual)le  (juartz  mines 
have  been  developed.  Co})pei-  was  noted  and  a  little  ore  mined 
near  Soledad  l*a.ss  hefore  the  American  occui)ation.  The 
copper  deposits  are  in  the  northeastern  pai't  of  the  county, 
near  and  northeast  of  Acton,  in  Soledad  Pass,  on  the  edge  of 
the  Mojave  Desert. 


346  TIIK  COPPER  RESOURCES  OF  CALIFORNIA. 

Palm  Development  Co. — This  company  has  supcrlicially 
developed  some  claims  located  twenty-three  miles  northeast  of 
Acton  and  three  miles  southeast  of  Little  Kock  Creek,  in  sec- 
tion 30.  township  5  north,  ranyc  10  west.  San  Hernardino 
meridian.  The  ore  is  found  in  deposits  in  a  porphyritic  dike, 
which  averages  180  feet  in  width.  The  mineralized  zone  may 
be  traced  for  one  and  a  half  miles.  Three  shafts  have  been 
sunk.  While  some  ore  was  encountered  in  these  shafts,  they 
failed  to  show  any  defined  led^e  or  continuous  deposit.  The 
ore  is  chiefly  malachite  and  carries  gold  and  silver.  The  mines 
have  lieen  h-ased  to  Messrs.  Elliot  &  Leavitt.  who  erected  a 
leaching  i)hiiit.  E.  M.-Ross  and  .Joseph  H.  Call,  of  Los  Angeles, 
owners. 

An  extension  of  the  claims  of  the  Palm  Development  Com- 
])aiiy  is  owned  by  William  i\I.  Van  Dyke,  of  Los  Angeles. 

Free  Cuba. — Located  a  half  mile  .south  of  the  Southern 
Pacific  Railroad  station  at  Acton.  This  mine  was  first  worked 
about  forty-five  years  ago,  and  abandoned.  The  old  shaft  has 
been  cleaned  out,  and  at  the  bottom.  200  feet  from  the  surface, 
samples  of  native  copper  were  found.  A  quartz  ledge  in 
granite  is  23  feet  wide.    Ira  L.  Houser.  of  Acton,  owner. 

Mooney  &  Williams  Claim. — Located  two  miles  south  of 
Acton.  A  crew  was  developing  the  property,  and  in  the  tunnel 
some  fair  copper  ore  had  been  encountered.  The  character  of 
the  ledge  is  similar  to  that  of  the  Free  Cuba.     Moonev  & 

Willinms.  of  Acton,  owners. 


APPENDIX. 


CALIFORNIA  STATE  MINING  BUREAU. 


This  iii.stitiitiun  aims  to  hi'  the  chief  soiiree  of  reliable  infor- 
inatjoii  altoiit  the  iiiiiieral  resourees  and  miniii«r  imlustries  of 
( 'alif(»niia. 

It  is  eiicouraired  ill  its  work  by  the  fact  that  its  publica- 
tions have  been  in  such  demand  that  larj^^e  editions  are  soon 
exhausted.  In  fact.  f'0]>ies  of  them  now  connnand  hiirh  prices 
in  the  market. 

Tile  publications,  as  soon  as  i.ssued,  find  their  way  to  the 
scientific,  public,  and  private  libraries  of  all  countries. 

STATE  MINERALOGIST. 

The  California  State  Mining;  liureau  is  under  the  supervision 
of  TTon.  Lewis  E.  Au])ury.  State  :\Iineralo.trist.  It  is  supported 
by  le^Mslative  approju-iat ions,  and  in  some  decree  performs 
work  similar  to  that  of  the  ^eolofrical  surveys  of  other  states; 
but  its  purposes  and  functions  are  mainly  practical,  the  scien- 
tific work  lieiuL'  clearly  subordinate  to  the  economic  phases  of 
the  mineral  Hi-ld.  as  shown  l)y  the  or};anic  law  governinpr  the 
Tiui'cau.  which  is  as  follows: 

Sec.  4.  It  shnll  !)<■  tin-  <liiiy  of  the  State  MineraloRist  to  make,  facili- 
tate, and  I'lifoiirage  special  studirs  of  the  niiiieral  resources  aiul  mineral 
inrlnstries  of  the  State.  It  shall  lie  his  duty:  To  collect  statistics  con- 
cernini:  the  occurrence  of  the  i-couomically  imi)ortant  mineral|  and  the 
methods  pursued  in  niakinir  their  valuable  constituents  available  for 
commercial  use:  to  make  a  colli'ction  of  typical  jreolocical  and  mineraloj;- 
ical  specimens,  especially  those  of  economic  or  commercial  imimrtance.  such 
collection  constitutinjr  the  Museum  of  the  State  Mininjr  Bureau  :  to  provide 
a  library  of  books,  reports,  drawings,  bearing  upon  the  mineral  industries, 
the  scien<es  of  mineralo;:y  and  ^enloi;y.  and  the  arts  of  mining  and  metal- 
luriry.  such  library  constitutini;  the  Library  of  the  State  Mining  Bureau  : 
to  make  a  collection  of  motlels.  drawings,  and  descriptions  of  the  mechan- 
ical apidiances  used  in  mining  and  nii-tallurgical  i)rocesses :  to  preserve  and 
so  maintain  such  collections  and  library  as  to  make  them  available  for 
reference   and   examination,    and   open    to   public   inspection    at    reasonable 


AiM'KNnix  349 

lir)iirs :  to  iii.-iiiitHiii.  in  olTfct.  ;i  Imrfjiii  nf  iiiforniation  conccrninK  the 
iiiiiirral  iiidnstrii's  of  tliis  Stiiic.  lo  ronsist  of  sucli  collootioiis  and  library, 
aixl  to  arraimi'.  classify,  cataloy:!!!'.  and  index  tlio  data  tliorein  contjiinod. 
in  a  nninm-r  (o  niak<>  the  information  availaliic  to  thoso  desirini;  it.  and 
to  provide  a  custodian  specially  ipialilied  to  i»roniote  this  i(uri)Ose;  to 
make  a  i)iennial  report  to  the  lioard  of  Trnsteos  of  the  Mininy;  Hnreau, 
settinjr  forth  the  important  n-snlts  of  ids  work,  and  to  issne  from  time 
to  time  such  linlletins  as  he  may  ileem  advisable  concerninj;  the  statistics 
and   technology  of  ilie  mineral   industries  of  this  State.    • 

THE  BULLETINS. 

The  field  covered  by  tlie  Ixtoks  issufd  nndor  this  title  is 
.shown  ill  the  list  of  piihlicatioiis.  Each  bullet  in  deals  with 
only  one  phase  of  mininji'.  Many  of  tliein  are  elal)orately  illus- 
trated with  engravings  and  maps.  Only  a  nominal  priee  is 
asked,  in  order  that  those  wIki  need  them  most  ma}^  obtain  a 
eopy. 

THE  REGISTERS  OF  MINES. 

Tlie  Registers  of  Mines  forms  {)raetieally  l)oth  a  State  and  a 
County  direetory  of  the  mines  of  California,  each  county  being 
represented  in  a  separate  pamphlet.  Those  who  wish  to  learn 
the  essential  facts  about  an\-  particular  mine  are  referred  to 
them.  The  facts  and  figures  are  given  in  taliular  form,  and 
are  accompanied  by  a  topographical  iii;i|)  of  the  county  on  a 
large  scale,  showing  location  of  each  mineral  deposit,  towns, 
railroads,  roads,  power  lines,  ditches,  etc. 

HOME  OF  THE  BUREAU. 

The  ]\Iining  Bureau  occupies  the  north  luiir  of  the  third  Moor 
of  the  Ferry  Huilding.  in  San  Francisco.  All  visitors  and 
residents  are  invited  to  iiisi)ect  the  Mu.seuni.  Library,  and  other 
rooms  of  the  I'ureau  and  gain  a  per.sonal  knowledge  of  its 
operations. 

THE  MUSEUM. 

The  Museum  now  contains  over  16.000  specimens,  carefully 
labeled  and  attractively  arranged  in  show  cases  in  a  great, 
well-lighted  hall,  where  they  can  be  easily  studied.  The  collec- 
tion of  ores  from  California  mines  is  of  course  very  extensive, 
and  is  supplemented  by  many  cases  of  characteristic  ores  from 
the  prinei|)al  mining  districts  of  the  world.     The  educational 


350  THE  COPPER  RESOURCES  OP  CALIFORNIA. 

value  of  the  exhibit  is  constantly  increased  by  substituting  the 
best  specimens  obtainable  for  those  of  less  value. 

These  mineral  collections  are  not  only  interesting.  l)eautiful. 
and  in  every  way  attractive  to  the  sightseers  of  all  classes,  but 
are  also  educational.  They  show  to  manufacturers,  miners, 
capitalists,  and  others  the  character  and  quality  of  the  eco- 
nomic minerals  of  the  State,  and  where  they  are  found.  Plans 
have  been  formulated  to  extend  the  usefulness  of  the  exliibit 
by  special  collections,  such  as  one  showinj;  the  chemical  com- 
position of  minerals;  another  showinu:  the  mineraloirical  com- 
position of  the  sedimentary,  metamorphic.  and  iitineous  rocks  of 
the  State;  the  petroleum-bearing  formations,  ore  bodies,  and 
their  country  rocks,  etc. 

Besides  the  mineral  specimens,  there  are  many  models,  maps, 
photographs,  and  diagrams  illustrating  the  modern  practice  of 
mining,  milling,  and  concentrating,  and  the  technology  of  the 
mineral  industries.  An  educational  series  of  .specimens  for 
high  schools  has  been  inaugurated,  and  new  plans  are  l)eing 
formulated  that  will  make  the  Museum  even  more  useful  in  the 
future  than  in  the  past.  Its  popularity  is  shown  by  the  fact 
that  over  one  hundred  thousand  visitors  registered  yearly,  while 
numv  failed  to  leave  anv  record  of  their  visit. 


THE  LIBRARY. 

This  is  the  mining  reference  library  of  the  State,  constantly 
consulted  by  mining  m^n.  and  contains  between  4000  and  500(1 
volumes  of  selected  works,  in  addition  to  tlie  numerous  publi- 
cations of  the  Bureau  itself.  On  its  shelves  will  be  found 
reports  on  geology,  mineralogy,  mining,  etc..  published  by 
statas,  governments,  and  individuals;  the  reports  of  scientific 
societies  at  home  and  abroad:  eneyclopa'dias.  scientific  papers, 
and  magazines;  mining  publications;  and  the  current  litera- 
ture on  mining  ever  needed  in  a  reference  library.  Manufac- 
turers' catalogues  of  mining  and  milling  machinery  by 
California  firms  are  kept  on  file.  Tlie  Registers  of  Klines  form 
an  up-to-date  directory  for  investor  and  nuinufacturer. 

The  librarian's  desk  is  the  general  l)ureau  of  information, 
where  visitors  from  all  parts  of  the  world  are  ever  seeking 
information  about  all  parts  of  California. 


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352  THE  COPPER  RESOURCES  OF  CALIFORNIA. 

READING-ROOM. 

This  is  a  part  of  the  Library  Department  and  is  supplied 
with  over  one  hundred  current  publications.  Visitors  will  find 
here  various  California  papers  and  leading  mining  journals 
from  all  over  the  world. 

The  Library  and  Reading-room  are  open  to  the  public  from 
"9  A.  M.  to  5  p.  M.  daily,  except  Sundays  and  holidays,  and  from 
9  A.  M.  to  12  M.  on  Saturdays. 

THE  LABORATORY. 

This  department  identities  for  the  prospector  the  minerals 
"*vhich  he  finds,  and  tells  him  the  nature  of  the  wall  rocks  or 
dikes  that  he  may  encounter  in  his  workings:  but  this  depart- 
ment does  not  do  assaying  nor  compete  with  private  assayers. 
The  presence  of  minerals  is  determined,  but  not  the  percentage 
present.  No  charges  for  this  service  are  made  to  any  resident 
of  the  State.  Many  of  the  inquiries  made  of  this  department 
have  brought  capital  to  the  development  of  new  districts. 
]\fany  technical  ((uestions  have  been  asked  and  answered  as 
to  the  best  chemical  and  mechanical  processes  of  handling  ores 
and  raw  material.     The  laboratory  is  well  equipped. 


THE  DRAUGHTING-ROOM. 

In  this  room  are  prepared  scores  of  maps,  from  the  small 
ones  filling  only  a  part  of  a  page,  to  the'  largest  County  and 
State  maps;  and  the  numerous  illustrations,  other  than  photo- 
graphs, tliat  are  constantly  being  required  for  the  Bulletins 
and  Registers  of  ]\Iines.  In  this  room.  also,  will  be  found  a 
very  complete  collection  of  maps  of  all  kinds  relating  to  the 
industries  of  the  State,  and  one  of  the  important  duties  of  the 
department  is  to  make  such  additions  and  corrections  as  will 
keep  the  maps  up  to  date.  The  seeker  after  information 
inquires  here  if  he  wishes  to  know  about  the  geology  or  topog- 
raphy of  any  district:  about  the  locations  of  the  new  camps, 
or  pasitions  of  old  or  abandoned  ones;  about  railroads,  stage 
roads,  and  trails:  or  about  the  working  drawings  of  an\'thing 
connected  with  mining. 


A 1  'I  'ENDIX — STATISTICS. 


353 


MINERAL    STATISTICS. 

One  of  the  features  of  this  institution  is  its  niinci-jil  statistics. 
Their  annual  compilation  liy  the  State  Mining  Bureau  l)ey:an 
in  1SI»:{.  No  other  State  in  the  Union  attempts  so  elaborate  a 
record,  expends  so  much  labor  and  money  on  its  (•(>m|)ilation. 
or  secures  so  accurate  a  one. 

The  State  Mininj?  Bureau  keeps  a  careful,  up-to-date,  and 
reliable  but  coutidential  retrister  of  every  producini.'  mine, 
mine-owner,  and  mineral  industry  in  the  State.  Prom  them 
are  secured,  under  ph'due  of  secrecy,  reports  of  output,  etc., 
and  all  other  available  sources  of  information  are  used  in 
checkinjr.  verifyinfr.  and  supplementinir  the  information  so 
gained.  This  information  is  published  in  ;in  aiuiual  tahidated, 
statistical,  single-sheet  bulletin,  showing-  the  mineral  i)rodue- 
tion  bv  both  substances  and  counties. 


TOTAL    GOLD    PRODUCT    OF    CALIFORNIA— 1848-1907. 


IMS 
1840 
ls,",o 
l.s.-,i 
ls.-,2 
i.s,->:i 
1.S.-4 
is.v. 
is.-.c, 
1S.-,T 
]s.-,.s 

isv.t 
ist;o 
isci 

ISCli 

isr,.-, 
1S(U 

I8r>.-. 
i.soe, 

ISC.T 
1S(>S 
ISiCO 
1  sT<  • 
1871 
1872 
1S7:'. 
1874 
1S7.". 

187(; 

1877 
1878 


.$l'4."..:!Ol 
10.1ol.3r,4l 
41.27;{.l(Xi 

7.".!>:{.s.i>:!-_> 

81,294,700 
ii7.tn:i487 
(;o.4:].'}.n:!i 

.").48.-».:!i».1 
."M..">0t),411 
4.^(;2.8.172 
4tJ.."'.!n.l4(» 

4r>.84(;..")rH» 

44.0(».-.lC..'^ 
41.8.S4.!l'.t.') 
:i8.8.")4.(W>8 
2.*i.."01 .7.*u; 
24.071. 42.-; 
17.n30.8.jS 

I7.i2.-;.8r,7 

1S.2(;."..4."2 
17,5.>").8G7 
18.220.044 
17.4.-.8.1.'« 
17.477..S8r» 
1. "..482.104 
1. ".,01 0.2 10 
17.204..S3r. 

ir..87r,.ooo 

l."..r,10.72.'. 
lG..^01.2fJS 
18.8:i0.141 


1870 
18.80 
1.881 
1.8.82 

i.ss;^ 

1.8.84 
1.88.". 
1.S8G 
1.887 
l.S,88 
1.8.80 
1.800 
1801 
I S02 
1803 
1.804 
1.8!>.". 
1.80<> 
1.807 

i.sn.s 

1.809 
1IM>0 
I'.Mll 
1002 
VMK', 
IIMM- 
UK).". 

v.hm; 

10(17 


.Sio.(;2t;.(r.4 
2o.(i:!o.7r.l 
lo.22;{.i.".r. 
I7.i4e..4in 
24.:iic..87;j 
i3.r.oo.o<X) 

12.('.(n.044 

i4.7it;..".o(; 

i:i.."r.88.(;i4 
12.7.".0.(M¥> 
il.2i2.oi:j 
12.:!<»O.703 
12.72.s..S(;o 
12..".71.0(N) 
12.422..811 
1.3.02:5.281 
1."...3;U.317 
17. 181  ..".(^.2 
1. "..871. 401 
1."..(mm;.478 
1.^>..33(!.031 
1."...S(k3.;!.".". 
1G.0.S0.(M4 
10.910..320 
ir,.471.2(U 

lO.ioo.crKt 

19,107.043 
18,7.32.4.".2 
10,727,028 


Total    $1,409,513,691 


23— BUL.  50 


354  THE  COPPER  RESOURCES  OF  CALIFORNIA. 

TOTAL  MINERAL  PRODUCT  OF  CALIFORNIA  FOR  1907. 

Tlie  follow  iiig  lal)k'  shows  the  yield  and  value  ui'  iiiineral 
sul)stances  of  California  for  19U7,  as  pei'  returns  received  at 
the  State  JNIining  Bureau,  San  Frauciseo,  in  answer  to  intjuiries 
sent  to  producers : 

QrANTITV.  WVLIE. 

Asbestos     TO    tons  .$.",,."»0l) 

Asi.halt    7!>.71S  tons  1,058,400 

liituniinons    rock 24,122  tons  72,835 

lioinx  Kic.si'.-.OOO  lbs.  1,200,913 

Cement    l.Ui;5..">ti.)  bbls.  2,585,577 

Chrome   • 302  tons  6,040 

Clay  ( brick )    :!t;2.1(;T  M  3,438,951 

( 'lay    ( pottery  I   l(;i).:;!S5  tons  2.54.4.54 

C,,a  1    23.7;{4  tons  .55.S49 

Coi)i)er   32.<)02.'.>45  lbs.  6.341. 3,S7 

Fnller's  earth    IW  tons  1,000 

Gems    2:]2.042 

Gold     S(»!».2i:!..52  ounces  1(;.727.!I2S 

Granite     .•'.I»!».4:J1  cu.   ft.  3T:!.:!7<; 

(Jyiisum    'S.OOO  tons  5T.Tn() 

Infusorial    earth 2..5:n   tons  2S.948 

Iron  ore   4(X)  tons  400 

I^ad    1<>-1  tons  16.(590 

Lime    684,218  bbls.  T56.:',76 

Limestone    230.9S5  tons  406,041 

Macadam     L5-14.<'.17  tons  1.082.302 

Magnesite    6,405  tons  57.720 

Manjranese    1   ton  25 

.Marble    M7.512  cu.  ft.  ]  18.066 

Mineral  paint    -'.50  tons  1.T20 

Mineral  water 2.!»2-l.26'.l  -als.  .544.o|6 

Natural    sas    IC'.t.OOl  cu.   ft.  114.75!» 

Paving  blocks   4.604  M  l'.t!>.:i47 

Petroleum    .  : 40.:m.l71  bbls.  16.78:',.!»43 

Platinum    ;!00.()7  ounces  6.25.5 

Pyrites   82.270  tons  251.774 

Quartz    crystals 4.0(V)  lbs.  10.(K>0 

(Quicksilver    17.:'.7!i  Hasks  063.178 

Rubble    744.271   tons  832,713 

Salt    88.063  tons    '  310,967 

Sand-glass    11 .065  tons  8,178 

Sandstone    150.573  cu.  ft.  .  148.148 

Serj.entine    1.0<M)  cu.    ft.  :;.000 

Silver    1.1.".S.,S.5.S  ounces  751. (i46 

Slate    7.000  sciuares  60.000 

Tungsten    120..587 

Zinc    10.598 

Total .$.55,697,940 


Ai'i'Kxnix — rrBLicATioxs.  :{,"),■"> 

MINING    BUREAU    PUBLICATIONS. 

l*ul)licMti(»IlS    of    this    l>lll-c;m    will    he    s.'iit    mi    receipt    dl'    Ihe 

r('(iiiisile  iiiiiniint  ami  jtoslafr*'.  Only  stamps,  coin  or  money 
orders  will  be  accepted  in  payment.  Do  not  send  personal 
checks. 

\<Mf'ss     ;ill     e..iiiiiiiiiiic;i1i(»tis     rciriii-dJiiL:-     |)iil)lic;iii()tis     lo 
LIBRARIAN. 

'All    |il|l)lie;iliii||s   not    liieiilioiied   ;ice   e\  li;nist('d. ) 

SALE  OF  MINING  BUREAU  PUBLICATIONS. 

I'lldcr    Section     S.    ;illleli(lliieill     to    tile     .Milling     l)lire;ill     Act. 

approved  Miirch  1(».  lilit:^.  voiir  jitteiitioii  is  rc.s|)('ct fully  called 
1(»  lli.-it   i)()rti(>n  of  the  ;iiiieii(liiieiit   which  .stati'.s: 

"The  hoard  i  hoard  of  trustees)  is  hereby  eiiipowci'ed  to  li.\ 
a  pi-ice  upon,  and  to  dispose  of  to  the  piihlic,  at  such  prices. 
'■"">•  and  all  publications  of  the  iJin-eaii.  iiicludiuiz'  repoi-ts. 
bulletins,  maps,  reijisters.  etc.  The  sum  derived  from  sihdi 
disposition  must  be  aeeounted  for  and  used  as  a  revolviiiL;- 
printiii'j  and  publisbint:-  fund  foi-  other  reports,  maps,  reeis- 
tcrs.  etc.  The  pi-ices  fixed  must  approximate  the  actual  cost 
of  pi'inliim  and  i.ssiiinu-  the  respective  i-epoi-ts.  l)ulletins.  maps. 
reiristers.  etc.  without  I'ld'erence  to  the  cost  of  oi)taininu  and 
l)repai-in^  the  information  enilir;iced  therein."' 

Price.    I'uslilijo. 

RejHU-t        X  I  —  is'li;.    First    Uicmiiiil .$1.(M1  .$(t.1.". 

Itcport   XIII  — iSiMi.   Third    I'.iciiiiiiii I.dii  .^n 

liuiifiiii   No.     (i — "(Toid     .Mill     riiuticcs     in     Californiu" 

"  •►'•   '■''■  >     7,U  M 

Kiillfliii    N.i.     '.I — ".Mine.    I  )r;iiiiii;rc,    rnnips.    Klc."    iioiini]        .do  .os 

ItiiJlfliii    .No.    1.". — .Miip    (,r    Oil     City     nil     Fields.     Fresno 

("oiiiily.    ( 'iiliforiii.i"    (|-,  ()•> 

liiilleiiii    .\o.   'Si — "Copper    Kesonrces    of    ( ';ilifori)i;i" ."lO  .Hi 

Hulletiii    .\o.   '24 — "Saline    Deposits   of    CalifoiiiiM" .".ii  .10 

Itiillctin    .No.  '27 — "Quick.silvor  Kesoiircps  of  Caiiroiiiia  "  .  .        .7.",  .O.S 

r.nlletiii    .No.  .'{O — "IJildio^rraiiliy    Itelaliii^'    to    the   Ceolojry. 

I'ala'oiUoloKy    and    .Mineral    Kesoinres    of    California," 

incliidini,'    List  of  .Maps r,l)  to 

Bulletin    .No.  .'51 — "Clieniie.il     Analysis    of    Califoniia     I'e- 

trolenni"     _  _  qo 

r.nlleiin    .No.  ;;:.' — "I'roduction   ami    Ise   of   California    Fe- 

ll'oleiun"      --  Qj^ 

P.nlletin    .No.  '.'.r. — "(Jold  I»redj;in};  in  California"    CM  e.l.  i        .."^i  .os 
Hnlletin   No.  37 — "(Jems  and  Jpwelers'  Materials  of  Cali- 
fornia"    (2<1    ed. ) .-(I              .0.S 


3o()  THE  COl'l'EK  KESOUKCES  OF  CALIFORXIA. 

rrici'.  I'ostaKC. 
r.nlli'liii    \o.   .'>S — ■■Striicliiral   Mini    Itidiisli-iiil    M.ilciials   of 

<  "iilifornia"    $0.7.".  $0.20 

I'.ullriin    .No.   42 — ■■.Miiicnil     I'lodiirtion     of     Califdriiia" — 

lili  C»     .02 

Itiilli'tin   .\o.  4."i — ••Auriferous  Blaek  Sands  of  California"       .10  .02 

r.iillriiu  Nil.  4f> — "Index  of  Miiiiii,;i  Bureau  Puhlicatious"  .30  .0(*. 
liulk'tin   .\o.   47 — •••-Mini'ial     rroduction     of    California" — 

Ukk;     .02 

Bulletin   No.  4N — ••.Minci-al    I'ro  hiction    of    California    for 

20  Years"     .02 

Bulletin   No.  no — "Copper  Resources  of  California" 

Bulletin  No.  51 — '•Mineral     rroduction     of    California"-^ 

10(»7    .02 

liulletin   No.  r»2 — '•Mineral    I'rodnction    of    California    for 

21  Years"   .02 

( "aliforiiia   .Mine  licU   Signals    ( <  "ardhoard  ) (»."»  .02 

California  Mine  I'.ell  Signals   1 1'aper) O.-,  .02 

(lOkl   Production    in   California    from    IS-IS  to    l!i(i7 A)- 

Besister  of  Minis,  with  Map.  .Kniador  Coiint.v 2.~>  .08 

Be.iiister  of  Mines,  with  Maj).  I'.utte  Count.v 2."i  .08 

Register  of  Minos,  wiili  Maji.  El  Dorado  Count.v 2.""i  .08 

Register  of  Mines,  with  .Map.   In.vu  Count.v 2."i  .08 

Rej;ister  of  Mines,  with  .Maji.  Kern  Count.v 'J."i  .08 

Register  of  Mines,  with  Mai>.  Lake  Count.v '2.")  .08 

Register  of  Mines,  with  Map.   Mariposa  Count.v '2~>  .08 

Register  of  Mines,  with  .Maj).  .Nevada  Count.v 2."  .08 

Register  of  Mines,  with  Map.  San  Bernardino  Count.v 2.">  .08 

Register  of  Mines,  with  Maj).  San  Diego  Count.v 2.")  .08 

Register  of  Mines,  with  Map.  Santa  Barhara  Count.v 2.")  .OS 

Register  of  Mines,  with  Map.  Shasta  Count.v 2."i  .08 

Register  of  Mines,  with  .Map.  Sierra  Count.v 2r>  .08 

Register  of  Mines,  with  Map.  Siski.vou  Count.v '2~>  .08 

Register  of  Mines,  with  .Mai).  Trinit.v  Count.v 2."»  .08 

Register  of  Mines,  with  .Map.  Tuolumne  Count.v 2r>  .(KS 

Register  of  Mines,  with  .Map.  Yuha  Count.v 2r>  .08 

Register  of  Oil  \Vells,  with  Map,  Los  Angeles  Cit.v 35  .02 

Mai.  «>f  Mother  Lode 0.")  .02 

yii\\>  of  Desert  Region  of  California 10  .02 

Map  Showing  Copper  Deposits  in  California (►.">  .02 

Map  of  Calaveras  Count.v 2.".  .03 

Map  of  IMumas  Count.v 2."  .03 

Map  of  IMacer  Count.v 2.">  .08 

Mineral  and  Relief  Map  of  California '2.'.  .05 

MAp  of  Forest  Reserves  in  California    (.Mounted) "tO  .08 

Map  of  Forest  Reserves  in  California   (Unmounted) 30  .06 

Map  of  Minaret  Mining  District,  Madera  Count.v '20  .02 

SaiiipU's  OiiiiittHl  to  llirt'c  at  one  time)  of  any  mineral  found 

in  the  State  may  be  sent  to  the  Bureau  for  identification,  and 

the  same  will  be  classified  free  of  eliarge.    No  samples  will  be 


y. 
y. 


•r. 


o 


o 


358  THE  COPPER  RESOURCES  OF  CALIFORNIA. 

determined  if  received  from  points  outside  the  State.  Tt  must 
])<•  iindirst (»()(!.  Dial  no  assays,  or  quantitative  determinations 
will  be  made.  Saiiii)]cs  sliiuild  l)c  in  a  hiiii])  t'onu  if  ])i)ssililc. 
aii<l  marked  plainly  with  name  of  sender  outside  of  package, 
post  office  address,  etc.  No  samples  will  be  received  unless 
charges  are  prepaid.  A  letter  should  accompany  sample  and 
a  stamp  should  be  enclosed  for  reply. 

Address  all  saiiiplrs  and  roniinuMJcalioiis  rcfrardiuo:  samples 
to  LABORATORY. 


LAW  RELATING  TO  MISREPRESENTATIONS  OF  MINES 
BY  ANY  OFFICER  OF  A  CORPORATION  TRANS- 
ACTING BUSINESS  IN  CALIFORNIA.  APPROVED 
MARCH  22,  1905. 

Section  1.  Any  supei-intendeiit.  direetor.  secretary,  man- 
ager. a«j"ent,  or  other  ot'ticer,  of  any  corporation  formed  or 
existing-  under  the  laws  of  this  State,  or  transactino;  business 
in  the  same,  and  any  person  pretendinji'  or  holding'  himself 
out  as  such  superintendent,  director,  secretary,  manager,  agent 
or  other  officer,  who  shall  willfully  subscribe,  sign,  endorse, 
verify,  or  otherwise  assent  to  the  publication,  either  generally 
or  privately,  to  the  stockholders  or  other  persons  dealing  with 
such  corporation  or  its  stock,  any  untrue  or  willfully  and 
fi-audulently  exaggerated  report,  prosj^ectus,  account,  state- 
ment of  operations,  values.  l)usiness,  profits,  expenditures  or 
prospects,  or  other  paper  or  document  intended  to  produce 
or  give,  or  liaving  a  tendency  to  produce  or  give,  to  the  shares 
of  stock  in  such  corporation  a  greater  value  or  less  apparent 
or  market  value  than  they  really  possess,  or  with  the  intention 
of  defrauding  any  particular  person  or  persons,  or  the  public, 
or  persons  generally,  shall  be  deemed  guilty  of  a  felony,  and 
on  conviction  thereof  shall  be  punished  by  impri.sonment  in 
state  prison,  or  a  county  jail,  not  exceeding  two  years,  or  by 
fine  not  exceeding  five  thousand  dollars,  or  by  both. 

Sec.  2.  All  acts  and  parts  of  acts  in  conflict  with  this  act 
are  hereby  repealed. 


INDEX. 


I*A(iK. 

.\I,AMKI>A  I'Ol'N'rY— Uescrlp- 

tioii  of   T'-' 

Mines  in  — 

Alma   !«!» 

Leona  HoiKlits  1"'^ 

ALI'INIC      COrXTV  —  Descrip- 
tion of   .  .  -^''> 
Mines  in — 

Leviathan   -"' 

Stella   -^*' 

AMADOR   COUNTY  —  Destiip- 

tion  of  --^ 

Mines  and   claims  in — 

Newton    222 

Moon   224 

■,-l,:iyt.r   225 

225 


lone  City 


Chaparral     --n 

Hiissel     225 

Bull  Run   225 

Copi)cr  Hill    226 

.Johnson   Kan<li    227 

lone  Coal  and  Iron  Co 227 

Mineral  City  227 

Forest   Home    227 

Mutual  Life  Insurance  Co..   228 

AV.  H.  Whittle  228 

Ai'ri:Nl)lX    347 

HKLT.   SHASTA  CDCNTY I'l 

BKL'I'.    SIKUUA    Ni;\AI>A  174 

HKLT.    COAST   RANGE 115 

m-UEAr.  STATE  MININ<:....    :{47 
CALAVERAS     COINTY  —  I  )e- 

si-ription  of   228 

Mines  and  claims  iii   - 

Union  '■   229 

Keystone  233 

Penn  Chemical  \Vorks 238 

Constitution    242 

Napoleon   242 

Star  and   Excelsior 244 

Collier    244 

Eagle    244 

Josephine   244 


Pack. 
CA  LAVERAS    COUNTY— Cont. 
Mines  and  claims  in — 

.lackson-McCarty    -I' 

Caledonian  245 

Pool     245 

CALIFORNIA    COPPER    PRO- 

1  )UCTION— 1882-l!t07    24 

COPPER      PR01>UCT1<)N       I.V 

COUNTIES    2t; 

COPPER     PRODUCTION     FOR 

21   YEARS    25 

CALIFORNIA    MINERAL  STA- 
TISTICS     353-354 

COLUSA     COCNT  Y  —  I  >escrip- 

tion  of   15" 

Mines  and  claims   in— 

(Jem  Group   ■•"■' 

Blackbird    ^-^^ 

( ".ray  Eagle    ^"^ 

Pacific    159 

Ruby  King    l*'^ 

Mark  Hanna  l*"'" 

Lion    1"'» 

DEL      NOR'I'E     COUNTY— De- 
scription of   133 

Low   Divide   District 13'! 

Alta  Group    13ti 

Union  Copper  '•''" 

Mammoth   Group    13S 

Frank  Zaar   13S 

Five    I  )iamonds    138 

Keystone    '38 

McKee   13*< 

Alameda    131t 

Call  f'.ro\ip   13!t 

Eva    13!. 

Prudential    13'' 

Tuesday  Morning  13!) 

Del    Norte    13-' 

Doctor   13!* 

Higgins   Mountain    140 

Monkey  Creek    140 

Bear's  Nest   138 

Bagley  138 


360 


INDEX. 


Pagk. 
EL     DORADO     COFNTY— De- 
scription of   210 

Mines  and  claims   in — • 

Alabaster  Cave   211 

Kelley  Bros 212 

Lil>ania   212 

Pioneer    213 

Homestead   213 

('aml)rian    213 

Cosumnes    214 

Fnrci  Group   214 

Arizona   216 

Copper  Cliief    216 

Agrara     216 

Boston   *. 216 

in*.  "Wren    216 

Rol>eit    216 

Larkin    217 

Hale    217 

Revoir    217 

Oest    217 

Cambrian    218 

Pioneei-    218 

Irland  218 

Costa  Ranch   218 

E.    R 218 

Bunker  Hill   219 

Rip  and  Tear 219 

Bob   219 

Noonday   220 

FRESNO     COFNTY  —  Descrip- 
tion  of   277 

Mines  and  claims  in — • 

Painter    278 

Fresno  Copper  279 

Copper  King  282 

Wabasli    287 

Mount  Sterling    287 

Grubstake    287 

Black   Mountain    287 

Buck's  Peak   287 

Sunset    288 

Mappy  Camp    288 

I  lild. ■brand     288 

W.  L.   Hinkle 288 

Anderson    &-   Gist 288 

Kanavvyer    289 

GEOLOGY   OF  SHASTA    COP- 
PER BELT   57 

GLENN    COUNTY— Description 

of    1.0.5 


GLENN   COUNTY— Cent. 
Mines  and  claims  in — 

Hudibras   15S 

II.    I>.    Kniglit 158 

St.  .bilin   Development  Co...   I'lS 
Black    Buttes    ],59 

HISTORICAL  NOTES   30-45 

HI'MBOIJ  )'l'     COUNTY  —  De- 
scription   of     l."ill 

Mines  and  claims  in — • 

Red  Cap   151 

La  Perin   152 

Red  Lasseck   152 

Rainbow    152 

Crimson    152 

Copper  Gl.ince   153 

Henderson    153 

Blake    153 

Shyer   154 

Patrick's   Point    154 

INYO  COUNTY— Description  of  299 
Mines  and  claims   in — 

Wisi'on.«in     301 

Kingman     301 

Valentine    303 

Navajo  Cliief   o(t3 

Eureka    304 

Trail   304 

Dodd's    Spring    304 

Ulida    304 

Olancha 306 

Spear    306 

Copper  Knife   306 

Anton  &  Pobst 306 

Silver  Hill    306 

Green  Monster 306 

Copper  Tail   306 

Copper   Point    306 

Inyo      Copper      Mines      and 

Smelter  Co 307 

Excelsior    308 

Fairbury    308 

Fairbaidis  No.   4 308 

Ormonde 308 

Ormonde  No.   2 308 

Kenilworth  No.  1 308 

Kenilwortb  No.  2 308 

Pluton    309 

Ajax    309 

Sanger  Group 309 

Cojiper  King   310 


INDEX. 


3(U 


Page. 
1NY<»  CUIXTV— Cont. 
Mines  and  claims  in — • 

Prince  Group   310 

Biue  Jay  310 

Red  Bird 310 

Good  Ln(k  Group 310 

Rainbow   312 

Giroux  Group  313 

Ricliardson     313 

Custer  Mine    314 

Climax     314 

Wincliester  Group    314 

Verde   314 

Argo  and  Arrowliead 314 

Keystone    314 

Copper  Alta   314 

Windy  Group   314 

Independeni-e    314 

Bonanza    Greenwater    Cop- 
per Co 316 

Greenwater  District    317 

Greenwater- Deatli        Valley 

Copper  Co 322 

Furnace  Creel<   Copper  Co..   322 
Butte  Furnace  Range  Co...   323 

Greenwater  Red  Boy 323 

Saratoga    323 

Kast  Greenwater    324 

Vindicator    324 

Calumet  and  Hecla 324 

Copper  King 324 

Pittsburg-Greenwater    324 

Greenwater  Blai  k  Jack 324 

Greenwater    Copper    Mining 

Co 324 

South  Greenwater   324 

Willow  Creek   324 

Arcturu.s  324 

Donald.son   &  Co 324 

Robicheau  &  Cox 324 

Sheep  Creek   324 

KERN    COUNTY  —  Description 

of  293 

Mines  and   claims   in — 

Greenback  Copper   294 

A.  J.  Maltl)y 29G 

Spa  and  Bonanza 29C 

J.    I>.    Hooper 297 

J.  R.  Manning 297 

Gallow   Glass    297 

LASSEN  COUNTY— Copper  in.    ITi^ 


Pace. 
LAKH     COUNTY  —  Description 

of  li;:! 

Minos  and   claims   in — 

Copper  Princ-e  Mining  Co...    H13 

Christianson  Tract 1*>4 

Poe  Claim    1>>4 

LOS  AN(5i:r>KS  COUNTY— De- 
scription  of    345 

Mines  and  claims  in — 

Palm   Development  Co 34fi 

Free  Cuba   34G 

Mooney  &   Williams 34G 

W.  M.  Van   Dyke 34r; 

MADERA      COUNTY— Descrip- 
tion of   2<;9 

Mines  and  claims  in — 

Buchanan   270 

Daulton    Ranch    270 

U.   S.   Copper  Smelting  ami 

Refining  Co 270 

Joe  Wagner 272 

Copper  Queen    272 

California  Copper  Co 272 

Questo   274 

Adobe  Ran<  h    27fi 

Old   Reed    27G 

Big  Chief  27G 

C.  M.  Ward  27G 

C.    S.   Mo.ses    276 

Mrs.  L.  Krohn   276 

MARIN     COUNTY— Description 

of  168 

Mines  and  claims  in — 

Bolinas  Copper  Mining  Co..    168 

Pike  Gulch  Mining  Co 168 

Union   Copper   Co 168 

MARIPOSA  COUNTY— Descrip- 
tion of   2.'>1 

Mines  and  claims  in — 

East  Belt   252 

Green   Mountain    253 

Lone  Tree  Mine 257 

Cavan  M.  &  M.  Co 257 

Rothcliilds    257 

Sunset    258 

Crown  Point   258 

Copper  King 258 

San  Jose  258 

Stonewall  Jackson   258 

Mammoth     260 


362 


INDEX. 


Page. 
MAUU'OSA  COUNTY— Cont. 
Mines  and  chiims  in — 

Great  Northern   260 

Pocaliontas    260 

A.  C.  Smith  262 

White  Rock   Copper   King.  .  262 

Cornett    264 

Yosemite    26.5 

Lone  Tree   265 

John   Dias    265 

La  Victoria  265 

Baretta   267 

Castignetto    267 

Farrari 267 

Barfield  267 

Antone  liilin   268 

Flyaway    268 

Copper   Queen    268 

Commissiona    268 

Heiser    268 

MENDOCINO     COUNTY  —  De- 
scription of   160 

Mines  and  claims  in — 

Potter  Valley   161 

Thomas    161 

Native  Copper   161 

Red  Mountain    161 

Ogle    161 

McGimpsey    162 

Pieta    162 

Redwood   Copper   Queen....  162 

MERCED  COUNTY— 
Mines  and  claims  in^ 

Jose   Copper    1 71 

Victor  Bonanza  1 72 

MODOC  COUNTY— Copper  in..  176 
MONO    COUNTY  —  Description 

of  298 

Mine's  and  claims  in — 

Santiago.  Cuba  and  Havana  299 

Goleta   Consolidated    299 

NAPA    COUNTY  —  Description 

of  164 

Mines  ;ind  claims  in — 

Napa  Copper    165 

Search  Group  165 

NEVADA      COUNTY— Descrip- 
tion of   189 

Mines  and  claims  in — 

Spenceville   Copper    191 


Page. 
NEVADA  COUNTY— Cont. 
Mines  and  claims  in — 

Spence  Mineral  Co 19.'? 

Nickerson    194 

Henry  Hibber    194 

Mineral  Hill    195 

Last  Chance   196 

Green  Lead   196 

Golden   Eagle    196 

Jackson    197 

Arkansaw  Traveler  197 

Genevieve    197 

Progress   197 

Monmouth   and  Climax 197 

Cal.   Gold   an<l  Copper  Co...  197 
Mineral     Hill     Mining     and 

Smelting   Co 197 

Daniel    Roberts    198 

E.  T.  Worthley   198 

Edison  Copper 19S 

Bitner  Mine    199 

Big  Bend   199 

Oro  Grande  Group 199 

Pine  Hill  Mining 199 

Red  Ledge  200 

Red   Mountain 200 

Sweet  Ranch    201 

Tola  Group   201 

Turner  Group    201 

Wetteran  Ranch   201 

Boss    201 

Carlisle 202 

Fairview  202 

Gautier    203 

California    203 

Iron  Mountain   203 

Lotzen  Ranch 204 

Mammoth  Gold  Copper 204 

Mammoth  Group 204 

Grizzley  Ridge  204 

PLACER     COUNTY  —  Descrip- 
tion of    205 

Mines  and  claims  in— 

Eclipse  Consolidated 207 

Algol     207 

Valley  View    208 

Dairy  Farm    208 

Thomen     209 

Davenport    209 

Nevada  Mining   209 

Elder    210 

Big   Pine    210 


INDEX. 


303 


Page. 
I'UM.VS     ("orN'IV  —  Kesiilp- 

tioH  lit   1"" 

Mliu-s  iiiul  claims  in — 

M<)iitK<>nuM-y    I"-' 

Polar  Still-   180 

Blue   IJoU    180 

Kewaril    180 

I>iini-UM    181 

Shoofly     182 

Peters    184 

Little  Gem  184 

Williani.s   Group    184 

lUivis    185 

Kngle  Copper  Mining  Co 185 

Kngle   Bros.   Group    185 

Kngels    Copper    Mining    Co. 

of  California  18G 

Superior    186 

Ilusselnian   •&    Shaw 187 

RIVKRSIUE      COUNTY  —  De- 
scription of   340 

Mines  and  claims  in — 

Orplian   Boy    341 

Palen    341 

Homestake    341 

Mountain   King   342 

Randolpli   &   Hamilton 342 

Anderson    342 

Badger  State    342 

Fluor   Spar    343 

Vulture  Crag    343 

Shadow  Mountain    343 

Ironwood  District 343 

S.\N    BIONITO   COUNTY— 

Dewis  Creek  Claim 172 

S.\N  BEUN.MiDINO  COUNTY— 

Description  of    325 

Mines  and  claims  in — 

Copper  World   326 

G.   Hampstead   328 

Manvel   Mining    330 

Ivanpali     330 

Copper  King  330 

Standard     330 

Leastalk    330 

Arizona-Mexican   M.   &   S...   330 

New    York    Mountains 331 

New-    York  Mine    331 

Giant   Ledge   Gold   and   Sil- 
ver  Co 333 

Von   Trigor    333 

Copper  Mountain    333 


Pack. 
SA.X  BIOKX.Mil  iIN(  >  CO.— CoMl. 
Mines  and  claims  in — 

l{o.«e    334 

Camp  Vera    334 

.luanita    335 

.Juanita  Group   335 

Lyttle  Creek   335 

Peai'ock     .  .  335 

Ord    336 

Hudspetli    336 

Lewis   &    Sliafer 336 

Leastock  G.  &  C.  M.  Co....   336 

American   Eagle    337 

Dayton     337 

Wilbur  &  Copperfield 337 

Horn    337 

Grey  i*t  Brown 337 

Ironwood  District  337 

'I'urtle  Mountains  337 

Copper  Basin    337 

Black   Metal    337 

P.  Walters 33S 

Old  Dad  Mt.   District 338 

Orange  Blossom    338 

Orange  Blossom  Extension.   340 
Lady    Lou    340 

SAN      DIEGO     COUNTY  — De- 
scription of   344 

Mines  and  claims  in — 

Danes  Lea  M.  Co 344 

Barona    ^"•" 

SAN  LUIS  OBISPO  COUNTY— 
Mines  and  claims  in — 

Los   Osos    1  '- 

Tiptop    1*^3 

Gloria    '"^ 

Tassajara   1'3 

Prodigal    Son    1"3 

Sky  Scraper    1"3 

Schneider  &  McCles 173 

Refugio    1'4 

Guerro    1  "4 

Guadalupe    1 '  4 

SHASTA  COUNTY'— 

Copper  Belt   of 50 

Geology  of  •''" 

Historical    30 

Mines  and  claims  in — 

Mountain  Copper   70 

Iron  Mountain   76 

Lone  Star   76 


364 


INDEX. 


Page. 
SHASTA  COUNTY— Con t. 
Mines  and  claims  in — 

Ironclad    7t; 

Maruce-Lynch    78 

Hiilly   Hill    78 

Mineral    Mountain    S4 

Sugar  Loaf    S4 

King  Copper  84 

Jumping  Jack    85 

Giant  Consolidated    85 

King 85 

I'nited  Copper  85 

Webster  Consolidated    85 

Waters  Group 85 

Spread  Eagle   85 

Loralne   87 

Shasta  King   87 

Balaklala    88 

Ohio  Consolidated    94 

Friday   &   Lowden 94 

Mammoth   95 

Mayflower    97 

Bohematosh    97 

Summit   97 

Ferguson  it  T.imlinugh 98 

Great  Verde   98 

Golinsky     100 

Keystone    100 

Gregory  &  Whalen 100 

Shasta  May   Blossom 100 

Brushy  Canyon   102 

Doedollis     102 

—  Afterthought     102 

Donkey    105 

Rising  Star   106 

Copper  City 107 

Schmidt    107 

Chattadown     107 

Kosk    Creek    108 

Hartford    108 

Cowboy   108 

Black  Diamond   108 

Roseman     109 

Jaegel    109 

Memorial    109 

Michigan     109 

Northern  Light   110 

Excelsior    110 

Arps    110 

McClure    110 

Ydalpom    Ill 

Polkinghorn    Ill 

Canyon    Ill 


Paoe. 
SHASTA  COUNTY— Con t. 
Mines  and  claims  in — 

Congress    m 

Gold  Belt    Ill 

Sanders     112 

Slaughter   112 

Horse  Mountain    ]12 

Bisniar(f<    112 

American   Girl    112 

Senator   112 

Sulphide    113 

Reno    113 

Crystal    113 

Endless  Chain    113 

Graham    113 

Oregon    Consolidated    113 

Reynolds    114 

Varsity    114 

Copper  Crest    114 

Shasta  Kennet 114 

IngersoU    114 

Motion  Creek    114 

SIERRA  COUNTY— Description 

of  177 

Mines  and  deposits  in — 

Lassiad    1S9 

Bassett's  Pride    189 

Zuver  189 

Antelope  Neck  189 

Bullion     189 

SISKIYOU    COUNTY— Descrip- 
tion of  120 

Mines  and  claims  in — 

Hummer 123 

Bonanza    123 

Copper  Queen    123 

Plutus    123 

Fortuna    123 

Solomon    123 

Hidden   Treasure    124 

August    Flower    124 

Huntley     124 

Lytle    124 

Polar   Bear    124 

Rader    124 

Turner 124 

Monarch  Copper  124 

Thanksgiving   125 

Rothkopli    125 

Schnider   125 

Rainbow   125 

Yellow  Butte    126 


INDKX. 


365 


Tack. 
SISKIYOr  COl'NTV— Corn. 
Mines  and  claims  in — 

Bonanza    1 26 

Bunnell    126 

I'nexpeited    126 

Silver  Mountain    1 2( 

Ten  Lakes  127 

Hathaway    1 

Eaton   127 

Batliluirst   12 

l>risKs    12 

KUiot    Distriil    128 

Blue  Ledge   128 

St.  Albans   121t 

Cook   &  Green 129 

Bloomtleltl    129 

First  National    129 

E.  L.  Jones   129 

Iglo   130 

E.  S.   Huff   130 

Morris    130 

Sliato   130 

Selby  &  Mc-Gill    130 

A  nderson    130 

Wellington.  Green  &  Page..    130 

Copper  City    130 

Little  .limmy    130 

Jonesville   130 

Happy  Camp  District 130 

Oak  Hollow 130 

1  )ewey    132 

Gilpin    132 

Doolittle  Creek    132 

Little   Blue    132 

Clear  Creek  132 

Buster    132 

Buzzard  Hill   132 

Titus   Creek    132 

Nigger  Creek    132 

Preston  Peak   132 

SONOMA    COl'NTY  —  Descrip- 
tion of  1  fit; 

Mines  and  claims  in — 

Wall   Tract    166 

Archer  Tract   1 66 

Healdsburg  Lode    167 

Grizzly    167 

Ward   Tract    167 

Altamont    167 

Baby  Jack  and  Earl  Clare..   167 


Page. 
TEHAMA      COl'NTY— Descrip- 
tion of   .• 155 

Mines  and  claims  in — 

Kestner  &  Tliompson Iii7 

Elder  Creek    157 

L.  E.  Perine   ir,7 

White    Bluff    157 

Tom  Head   157-158 

California     and     Massachu- 
setts Copper  Co 158 

I'ncle  Sam   158 

Halley    iss 

Verde   iss 

TRINITY    COUNTY  —  Descrip- 
tion  of   140 

Mines  and  claims  in — 

Cold   Creek    142 

Lambert   142 

Lone   Pine   142 

Maddox   142 

Murpliy   142 

Pattie    143 

Vine  Oak    143 

Granite    143 

Nonpareil   143 

Bear  Tootli    144 

Birdie     144 

Quinby   144 

Big  Buck    144 

Last  Chance   145 

Cinderella    145 

Copper  Button   145 

Copper  Queen  145-146 

Crown  Point  145 

Eureka    145 

Le   Blanc    146 

Slioemaker    146 

Maitland   146 

Jackson    &    Carter 146 

Fortuna   146 

Iron   Mountain    146 

Black  Palatigus  148 

Island  Mountain  Cons 148 

South    Fork    District 142 

New  River  District 143 

Trinity  Fork  District 145 

Other  districts 146 

TULARE    COUNTY  —  Descrip- 
tion of  289 


366 


INDEX. 


Page. 
TULARE   COUNTY— Cont. 
Mines  and  claims  in — 

W.   F.  Powell 290 

W.   F.   Glider 290 

C.  W.  Keller  290 

Barber  290 

Dewey   292 

Copper      Mountain      Mining 

Co 292 

Sherman   293 

Gill    293 

TUOLUMNE     COUNTY  —  De- 
scription of   247 


Page. 
Tl'OLUMNE  COUNTY— Cont. 
Mines  and  claims  in — • 

Washington   249 

Don  Pedro  District 249 

Kohl.    Shell,   Mackay  Ranch 

and   Chinese   Camp 249 

F.  T.   Lillard   249 

Oak  Hill   250 

Mitchell  or  Bonne  Terre. . . .  251 

Moccasin  Creek  249 

YUBA  COUNTY— Copper  in 205 

Mines  and  claims  in — 

Dempsey  Ranch    205 

Brady  Ranch   205 


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